Sensory seeking.

Right after Gabriel turned two years old, he was diagnosed with two things.  He needed speech therapy for his slow language development and occupational therapy for his sensory processing disorder. 

It was at the time that I questioned therapists and development specialists about autism. Friends, family, and specialists all reassured me that he didn't have autism.  We all know how that turned out three years later.  

Any way, when he was two years old, I remember he acted like a little animal.  I could not control him. He plowed into furniture, knocking over our dining room table and chairs repetitively.  I swear I could have cut off his arm and he wouldn't have felt it.  Gabriel ran straight into things without flinching. 

He bit other children and he had no understanding of the pain he caused. Little Gabriel cornered one child in one of the kids tubes and tried to bite this child. Andrew had to maneuver the gerbil tunnels in order to save the screaming child. Several years later we learned that child was a sensory avoider.  Not a good fit for a friendship!

Further, I will admit that I swatted his tush during this time only to get the cutest giggles and laughter. 

That impact on his body felt good. The jolt from running into furniture was a good thing for him.  I later learned that there is a lot of sensory input from the jaw. No wonder he liked to chomp on his friends! 

Our home was modified from baby proofed to sensory seeker home.  We had an indoor trampoline and the kids rode scooters and small bikes all over house.  We constantly had rice bins and play dough available for sensory seeking. We also had bean bag chairs in order to smush and roll Gabriel. 

He is 8 years old now.  His sensory seeking is still obvious in certain situations. When Gabriel watches a movie, he tends to lay upside down. He chews on things and fidgets. His dance lessons help him get his sensory seeking fulfilled. 

One thing I have to keep in mind because as the days and years roll on, I tend to forget - when he is able to meet those sensory needs, his brain organizes itself better.