No law or ordinance is mightier than understanding. -Plato
Jewel's frustration sometimes comes from not being understood.
I am understanding her need is no different than mine.
We have made a wonderful break through with Jewel's reading.
I think it is timing, knowledge and the creative process of not giving up and trying alternate avenues.
In the past Jewel was not able to physically tolerate and support this position of being on all fours on the floor.
Being able to be on all fours with gravity's help and our minimal touch is what helped facilitate reading.
Patience, ... waiting for Jewel to respond, read or ask for help.
Her processing takes a little longer than ours, being aware of this and respecting her way.
Weight bearing is critical to being able to use your limbs in a functional movement, so this position is multi-faceted.
Jewel is able to listen to audio books from the library and follow the story line and comprehend, for this we are very grateful. She has just finished listening to Inkheart and Inkspell by Cornelia Funke, one more in the series to go. One of us is always sitting by her during the audio book, ready to answer questions when she says, "I do not get it" or laugh with her or be sad with her. We do not just put her in her wheel chair with audio book on and leave, this is important to know because a child should always have a parent or caregiver close by to connect with.
I still read books out-loud with my teens, and we talk and connect as we read along. A most memorable book that we read together was, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper lee. We had taken three copies out of the library and daily took turns reading together. We cried and laughed together, I stopped and explained ideas, history, life and we connected and grew in understanding. A most best time that I savour in my heart forever.
Yesterday Jewel read Book 3 and book 4 in the Bob book series by Bobby Lynn Maslen, scholastic. I had her in her chair and she was very relaxed. Her breath was very shallow due to the irritation of all the sugar cane harvest burning. I applied some slight pressure to her head in a downward motion thus stabilizing her head and I held the book up in front of her. She gets a good laugh out of the illustrations and after she has had time to look and we comment briefly on the pictures we begin reading. I wait and help only when she says, "help". Book 3 was a review on Mat and she did well. Book 4 brought more help from me, Jewel was tired after this but her focus and attitude was strong and happy, willing to go to the page that said, The End.
Understanding takes time, but a worthy and important act for both her and I. How can we be kind, show sympathy, be considerate or sensitive with out understanding. Understanding our needs and taking care of them eliminates stress and sickness. Understanding our children and helping them meet their needs makes our world a better place. Stepping out of the one sided dimension and participating in the two dimensional world brings us to three dimensional. I am enriched when I can learn from my children and understand them thus my life becomes fuller and more meaningful. Being disconnected from them is a cold, sad, angry and frustrating place. I choose to take the time to understand more deeply.
The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding. -Leonardo da Vinci
I must understand that Jewel's physical condition makes learning more encompassing, first we have to physically put her in a position that will facilitate supportive and correct body posture. She can not yet do this by herself. Once this is done we have to be calm and make sure her needs are met, is she comfortable, is she thirsty, hungry, happy. We take out distractions; like people, things, noises that will steel her attention and set her tone and spasticity into motion. Once these needs have been met we patiently go on to help with the task like reading. We still want to process to be full of life, love, wonder, fun and organic. Learning should be fun! Then we start and stop, taking many breaks for her to catch her breath literally and for us to adjust our attitude remembering and understanding her needs and the process and desired outcome. Everything is a matter of choosing to be love, patient, peaceful and understanding.
It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through. -Zig Ziglar
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