Lately we've been noticing if Mason sees another kid cry (like really cry not just kind of cry), he stares intently then starts crying himself. It's not a normal Mason cry or a tantrum, but it is extreme sadness and crocodile tears. His teacher says it happens at school, it happens at daycare, it has happened a few times around his cousins, and of course it happens with Jonas. It's so sad to see his big blue eyes look to me in confusion then he just starts belly crying. It's like he doesn't know what to do with the sound or with all of that emotion that someone else is feeling. I wish I could explain and help him navigate some of those difficult emotions. It's important to be aware of others' emotions, so it's a good thing that he is slowing down enough to notice others around him and their emotions. The tough part is how to help him understand and normalize their emotions. It's hard helping Mason deal with his own emotions since he is limited with his communication, but I had never really thought about how to help him navigate the emotions of other people.
We had Mason's parent/teacher conferences last week. His teacher said that she loves Mason's big smile and excitement over certain things. It was great to hear about Mason's progress. We are pleasantly surprised with how quickly he is understanding and adapting to the routine. His teacher said that he really picks up on things quickly. He is starting to use more words in the classroom, using his utensils better, accomplishing certain skills, and participate more in classroom activities. One of the big things is that he is starting to recognize pictures of himself. Every day he has to take his picture off the wall and put it onto the picture of school. He has just started to search for his own picture (instead of just taking a random one off the wall) and putting it on the school himself instead of the teacher telling him to do it. We are glad that he is noticing and participating in these little routines and tasks because it will help him visualize his day and deal with transitions. I (of course) asked a lot of questions about everything. One big thing I found out is that he may qualify for summer school because he is at a critical learning point, and they don't want him to lose any skills that he has developed.
Mason's OT appointments have been going really well lately. Zach had been taking him while I was on bedrest and just after Jonas was born, but I was finally able to go with him again last week. Mason has been bringing smiles to many people there. It's fun to see him be the Mason we know and love in other settings. If you know Mason, you know that when he's excited about something, he's not quiet about it. When walks into the OT waiting room, he walks around looking for his therapist. As soon as he finds her, she asks, "Mason are you ready to go back and play?" Mason always happily screams, "Yeah!" Then he dances around and runs back. I may be biased, but it's the cutest thing ever and can bring a smile to anyone around him. During the sessions, Mason has been getting stuck in a routine with play during his appointments. His therapist wanted to push him and took him to a new room to try to incorporate new ideas. Mason struggled with the transition, but his tantrum only lasted 8 minutes. Remember back to his early appointments where his tantrums would last almost the entire sessions? I love that his therapist is not afraid to push him and help him through his tantrums because that is going to help him so much more in the future!
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