My contribution to the 3/21: A Day in the Life blog hop on Down syndrome Blogs.
The other day, for example, he was siting watching "Law and Order" for the umpteenth time.... and had been eating his typical lunch - a sandwich with way too much salad dressing (but he does it by himself and is OH SO PROUD ) and his assortment of "snacks." I try to convince him to limit them to three a day - but ... I think he believes that means three of each kind, or maybe three of each color.... Not really sure how he defines it - but I'm almost positive its a multiple of some kind. Anyway - he was talking to himself as he always does: "Okay, what's first? Applesauce." He stopped taking inventory and eating long enough to say in my general direction. "You know, I have a problem." |
Now, Josh isn't want to complain, and if he does I know it's serious. Since he wasn't speaking directly to me - that's his trick - yesterday I was supposed to pick up on the fact the he was telling "his boys" (the stuffed animal menagerie he has around him at all times) that he wanted something that started with an e and had two g's. When the inanimate objects failed to get my attention after a few minutes, he announced that he would have to give his mom the silent treatment until she made him breakfast.
So back to "the problem." While I'm deciding whether or not to interject into his conversation with himself, he says that the problem is with "this big foot." Okay, I think, it's medical, I better find out what's going on.
"Is something wrong with your foot Josh?" I break into his train of thought and it takes him a minute to re-group.
"No. I just tripped over this big foot." He says.
"Are you okay?" I wonder, but know that it can't have happened any time recently - he's watched at least four episodes of "Law & Order" today and I haven't heard a thing until now.
"Yeah," he smiles, "But I tripped over that cord. You know, my game, and landed on this big foot. It's not hurt." (He's waving his foot with the slipper on it in my direction to make sure that I see how big it is.....)
After a few minutes of back and forth, I'm convinced that this was not a recent occurance, that he is in no pain, and that it doesn't require medical attention, so we go on with our day.
A few days later I realized that he hadn't mentioned playing his new Playstation 3 that he got from his Aunt and Uncle for Christmas in the past few days, or had it been weeks? I start to replay the "problem" with his "big foot" and wonder if the two may be connected.
"Josh, is there something wrong with your game?" I ask half afraid to hear the answer. "Is it not working?"
"Well," he stutters..... "Yes"
Hmmm.... the plot thickens. "Yes, what?"
"It not work. My big foot."
Visions of crushed plastic hidden somewhere in another room race through my mind as I try to remain calm - all the while secretly wondering just how long it would have taken him to actually SAY that he had broken his game.
"Well," I start with quiet restraint, "why don't you bring it here so I can see if I can fix it, or take it somewhere to get fixed."
Now, this kind of thing had happened once before, but it involved a CD that "accidentally" got broken into several pieces. The only part of the story I ever got was that it involved a momentary loss of his temper....
So back to "the problem." While I'm deciding whether or not to interject into his conversation with himself, he says that the problem is with "this big foot." Okay, I think, it's medical, I better find out what's going on.
"Is something wrong with your foot Josh?" I break into his train of thought and it takes him a minute to re-group.
"No. I just tripped over this big foot." He says.
"Are you okay?" I wonder, but know that it can't have happened any time recently - he's watched at least four episodes of "Law & Order" today and I haven't heard a thing until now.
"Yeah," he smiles, "But I tripped over that cord. You know, my game, and landed on this big foot. It's not hurt." (He's waving his foot with the slipper on it in my direction to make sure that I see how big it is.....)
After a few minutes of back and forth, I'm convinced that this was not a recent occurance, that he is in no pain, and that it doesn't require medical attention, so we go on with our day.
A few days later I realized that he hadn't mentioned playing his new Playstation 3 that he got from his Aunt and Uncle for Christmas in the past few days, or had it been weeks? I start to replay the "problem" with his "big foot" and wonder if the two may be connected.
"Josh, is there something wrong with your game?" I ask half afraid to hear the answer. "Is it not working?"
"Well," he stutters..... "Yes"
Hmmm.... the plot thickens. "Yes, what?"
"It not work. My big foot."
Visions of crushed plastic hidden somewhere in another room race through my mind as I try to remain calm - all the while secretly wondering just how long it would have taken him to actually SAY that he had broken his game.
"Well," I start with quiet restraint, "why don't you bring it here so I can see if I can fix it, or take it somewhere to get fixed."
Now, this kind of thing had happened once before, but it involved a CD that "accidentally" got broken into several pieces. The only part of the story I ever got was that it involved a momentary loss of his temper....
He disappeared into the back room where he has recently been "playing" his game (in fact I think he spends more time watching the narrated story that comes along with all the WWE Smackdown vs. Raw yearly releases - but hey, it makes him happy.) I had welcomed the relief from hearing the same music and the same "announcing" from Josh over, and over, and over again when he was playing in the room next to me. When he returns he puts the console on my bed and says "Here it is." A quick look relieves my fears about it being in pieces - looks whole without any obvious destruction at first glance. So, I say "do you want to hook it up in here and show me what's not working?" He looks at me like I'm totally missing the point - "Here, I told ya, my foot," and he hands me the AV cord that is torn in two pieces. "AH! I see!" "Yeah, my big foot tripped over it and broke it." |
Phew! All that for an $8 cord.... "I can probably get that online" I say. "Really!?" he smiles so big you think I'd promised him the moon.
A few minutes later the damaged cord is ordered and I let him know it's on the way. "Mom! You're the best ever!" He says comfortably seated back in "his chair" with the boys surrounding him and his "big foot" under a blanket, no longer needing to be on display.
That's what a day with Josh is like! Full of drama, intrigue, and so much love that everyday, little things like fixing a broken appliance make you "the best Mom ever." Nope, I wouldn't trade it for the world!
A few minutes later the damaged cord is ordered and I let him know it's on the way. "Mom! You're the best ever!" He says comfortably seated back in "his chair" with the boys surrounding him and his "big foot" under a blanket, no longer needing to be on display.
That's what a day with Josh is like! Full of drama, intrigue, and so much love that everyday, little things like fixing a broken appliance make you "the best Mom ever." Nope, I wouldn't trade it for the world!