The Athlete
So, around the same time we started the supplements for
Coleman, we started to ramp up his activity level. I’ve said in the past, finding
extra-curricular activities for kids like Coleman is very, very difficult. He wants so much to be with typical kids, yet
is not able to interact with them appropriately for typical after school
activities. So we’ve been feeling our
way around some new things, and much to our collective happiness, Coleman has
been enjoying it all.
We started with Soccer this past fall. Hingham runs a Special Needs Athletic
Partnership (SNAP) program geared at kids of all ages with disabilities. The program is run by adults with the help of
neuro-typical teenagers, and attempts to make otherwise inaccessible activities
available to these kids. This fall was
our first foray into it, and the soccer program was a hit with Coleman. It was
run like a soccer clinic (not really games), giving the kids a chance to just
sort of mess around with the ball and kick it into the net. The folks that volunteered in the program
were awesome, and the teenagers were great with the kids. This is sexist, but I always find it so
impressive when teenage boys volunteer for this sort of thing. Taking them right out of their comfort zone
and throwing them in with the likes of Coleman makes for a true test of
character – and these kids were all really great. Coleman was hilarious as he moved at his
typical snail’s pace, even kicking (pushing?) a soccer ball towards the
net. He literally would move so slowly
that the ball’s movement was almost imperceptible. Still, pushing it toward the net and the
coach would yell “YEAH COLEMAN!! YOU ARE
SO CLOSE!! KEEP GOING BUDDY!!” It was good fun, and despite Coleman’s
lackluster performance and enthusiasm, he really enjoyed it, and would talk
about going non-stop all week.
Shortly after soccer ended, we began our season at
Loon. Many of you who are friends with
me on Facebook already know the wonderful progress we saw with Coleman this ski
season. But for those of you that missed
it, it was nothing short of spectacular.
Coleman loves to go to NH – less because of the skiing, we figured out,
but more because it provided an enclosed space in which we were all
together. And Coleman loves when
everyone is home. In fact, many of our weekend issues when we are not up North surround
Coleman’s difficulty handling departures and absences, particularly relating to
Abby and Emma. Drop-offs can be a
nightmare. But the girls are busy
teenagers, and weekends they are off with friends or working. Their absence causes Coleman much distress,
asking non-stop where they are and when they will be home. Heaven forbid they go to a sleepover. College should be a real treat for all of us. But at Loon, after a full day of skiing,
everyone is pretty worn out, and for the most part, we have dinner together and
hang in. This makes Coleman so very,
very happy. So happy, in fact, that all
week he asks “4 more days then New Hampshire?” and the countdown continues each
day. Skiing itself? Well in the past that was a nasty side effect
of getting the stay-at-home bliss that he so loved. And we had to prep for 6-7 weeks ahead,
getting him ready for helmet, boots, skis, and the rest of the gear necessary
for skiing. And even then, he tolerated
it at best. There was no love of the
sport. This year? Totally different story. He eagerly talked about skiing and on DAY ONE
he put all the gear on, walked out to the slope, turned to me and said “Be back
soon?” and was off. DAY ONE. And he didn’t stray from that heavenly
attitude the entire season. He was such
a champ. Even his coaches would say to
him “Do you want to ski more or take a break Coleman?” and he would say “Ski
more!” All the folks at NEDS, who have seen him over the past three seasons
now, were thrilled to see him so agreeable and actually enjoying his time
there. Ah, it was really, really
wonderful for us all.
He also ice skated for the first time in his life this
year. His new school ran a social
program, taking the kids to the rink once a week on Mondays throughout the
winter. When they sent home the
permission slip, I laughed. I cannot imagine he will enjoy this, I
thought. Skates? Slippery ice? Trouble standing up? But his teachers took him anyway and my
little man loved it, laughing all the while.
Every Monday he would ask excitedly “Skating today?!” He surprised us all.
More recently, we began a gymnastics class on Sunday
mornings which again, he loves. I would
say it’s more of a good PT session, with rolling and climbing on mats, swinging
from parallel bars, and jumping over small obstacles, as well as the beloved
trampoline. But he loves this all and asks
about going every week. I only wish
there were more kids in the class – it is a special needs class and he is in it
alone. He doesn’t complain at all – but
I know he would love it more if there were other kids.
We are also trying at home to capitalize on his new interest
in activities, setting up play programs in the playroom as a break from the computer. These activities include a counting game, a
Smartmax magnetic building activity, a Lego set with picture to follow to make
a small house, and coloring and writing activities. He doesn’t adore these yet, but does them
easily without complaining. With the
warmer weather approaching, we have started to also move some activities
outside. We’ve been doing a bounce-pass game
with his ball and he loves it. We start
off slow, and then say “time to go fast Coley” and speed up the bouncing as
fast as he can handle it. He loves this
game and laughs hilariously when one of us misses it.
In all, I guess you could say Coleman’s become quite the
athlete. J
In the next few weeks, he’ll start a
new swim class, and I am super excited for that. He loves the pool and learning to swim is a
necessity. We’ve also signed up for the
next SNAP session, which is track. I
can’t wait for this one - I know Coleman is going to LOVE it. Not only because some of his friends and Miss
J. will be there, and not only because Abby and some of her pals from the High
School track team are volunteering, but because he adores watching people
run. So this should be hilarious. I took him to the track a couple of weeks ago
to prep him for what was coming, so he would understand what I meant when I
said “track”. The video is below. Back off Abby, you’re not the only kid in
this house doing hurdles. J
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