Hello!!! If you are reading this then it means you haven't forgotten us. For which I am very grateful, so thank you. It has been ages since the last time I blogged, but I have been busy doing something more important than anything else in the world; having a rest and spending time with my family!
Our summer holidays are just about my favourite time of the year. It is a time when we truly try and cut ourselves off from the world. We allow ourselves to sleep in, eat and drink beyond reasonable limits and generally switch off.
And for me it is a time to reflect on where we have been in the last year, where we are now and which direction we are heading in. I love to sit back and watch my Moglets. It's when I see how much they have grown, matured developed and sometimes see things they need help with and changes I need to make. I never make New Year Resolutions. Coming on the back of the frazzled Christmas period, when everyone is giddy with excitement and I am worn as flat as a pancake, it seems a ridiculous time to start making massive changes to my life or that of my family. Add in the fact that the weather is cold, dark and the bank balance is in a similar state, all I can rely on about January is that I will spend most of it eating too many carbs!
But our summer holidays, when I have had real chance to unwind and take stock seems to be the time when I make big decisions and come back fired up with real enthusiasm for new projects.
So what did I learn this year, and what on earth has this got to do with dyspraxia? Well, firstly, there are one or two ideas in the pipeline, not for general consumption yet though! Secondly, I realised how fussy Moglets 3 and 4 have become about what they eat - Project Broaden-Your- Culinary- Horizons started on Tuesday!
And thirdly, I realised how much my Moglet number 2 needs his space. Both physical and mental. He needs space, in every sense of the word. And then he thrives!
On our holiday we had the use of a fantastic pool and even a tennis court, so gross motor skills were the order of the day. I can hear sharp in takes of breath; "Gross motor skills and dyspraxia! Surely a recipe for disaster!" Well, actually no, not in Moglet Number 2's case. Yes,his core body strength isn't the best and, yes, his balance can be a bit off. For example we had one spectacular fall backwards on the tennis court with an large egg on the head that lasted a few days! But in generally gross motor skills are not our biggest problem. It's the fine motor skills, like writing and typing. It's the need to be sitting inside and concentrating. It's encasing his sensitive body in a formal school uniform - two weeks in nothing but loose fitting shorts and t shirts and it's bliss! Add in hourly opportunities to be out and doing stuff, letting off steam and we were away.
And swimming, watching Moglet number 2 churn up the pool, swim under the water, dive, bomb and float, and I could see all his sensory needs being filled. With his sensory needs filled he was a happier boy.
And with your gross motor and sensory needs filled, you are more relaxed, which means you sleep better, much better! Which means you are generally coping with life better too!
I also realised that we are starting to make headway with mental space. We aren't there yet, but more and more my Moglet is starting to realise his limits. He is beginning to acknowledge when everything is getting too much, when the sensory overload is building and he needs to remove himself. Being away and relaxed he was practising this skill. It is this self awareness that gives me the most hope for the future. I can't teach him that. Guide him, maybe but I can't do it for him.
With all this physical release, sensory satisfaction, improved sleep and relaxed time out, my sensitive, funny and intelligent Moglet was at his best. And it was lovely to see.
My challenge now is to try and replicate some of this when we plunge head long back into the throes of real life. How do I help my boy shine when we add in homework, personal organisation, early morning, school uniform etc. etc ?
Time to make a PLAN!!! And I open to ideas!!
Our summer holidays are just about my favourite time of the year. It is a time when we truly try and cut ourselves off from the world. We allow ourselves to sleep in, eat and drink beyond reasonable limits and generally switch off.
And for me it is a time to reflect on where we have been in the last year, where we are now and which direction we are heading in. I love to sit back and watch my Moglets. It's when I see how much they have grown, matured developed and sometimes see things they need help with and changes I need to make. I never make New Year Resolutions. Coming on the back of the frazzled Christmas period, when everyone is giddy with excitement and I am worn as flat as a pancake, it seems a ridiculous time to start making massive changes to my life or that of my family. Add in the fact that the weather is cold, dark and the bank balance is in a similar state, all I can rely on about January is that I will spend most of it eating too many carbs!
But our summer holidays, when I have had real chance to unwind and take stock seems to be the time when I make big decisions and come back fired up with real enthusiasm for new projects.
So what did I learn this year, and what on earth has this got to do with dyspraxia? Well, firstly, there are one or two ideas in the pipeline, not for general consumption yet though! Secondly, I realised how fussy Moglets 3 and 4 have become about what they eat - Project Broaden-Your- Culinary- Horizons started on Tuesday!
And thirdly, I realised how much my Moglet number 2 needs his space. Both physical and mental. He needs space, in every sense of the word. And then he thrives!
On our holiday we had the use of a fantastic pool and even a tennis court, so gross motor skills were the order of the day. I can hear sharp in takes of breath; "Gross motor skills and dyspraxia! Surely a recipe for disaster!" Well, actually no, not in Moglet Number 2's case. Yes,his core body strength isn't the best and, yes, his balance can be a bit off. For example we had one spectacular fall backwards on the tennis court with an large egg on the head that lasted a few days! But in generally gross motor skills are not our biggest problem. It's the fine motor skills, like writing and typing. It's the need to be sitting inside and concentrating. It's encasing his sensitive body in a formal school uniform - two weeks in nothing but loose fitting shorts and t shirts and it's bliss! Add in hourly opportunities to be out and doing stuff, letting off steam and we were away.
And swimming, watching Moglet number 2 churn up the pool, swim under the water, dive, bomb and float, and I could see all his sensory needs being filled. With his sensory needs filled he was a happier boy.
And with your gross motor and sensory needs filled, you are more relaxed, which means you sleep better, much better! Which means you are generally coping with life better too!
I also realised that we are starting to make headway with mental space. We aren't there yet, but more and more my Moglet is starting to realise his limits. He is beginning to acknowledge when everything is getting too much, when the sensory overload is building and he needs to remove himself. Being away and relaxed he was practising this skill. It is this self awareness that gives me the most hope for the future. I can't teach him that. Guide him, maybe but I can't do it for him.
With all this physical release, sensory satisfaction, improved sleep and relaxed time out, my sensitive, funny and intelligent Moglet was at his best. And it was lovely to see.
My challenge now is to try and replicate some of this when we plunge head long back into the throes of real life. How do I help my boy shine when we add in homework, personal organisation, early morning, school uniform etc. etc ?
Time to make a PLAN!!! And I open to ideas!!