Squeeze hugs. I have found that the best way for me to calm Jimmy down is by hugging him. Not just any sort of hug but tight squeeze hugs. It’s a part of sensory that he loves and responds to. He also loves it when I rub his back. Come to think of it, and he also loves when I lightly tickle his back. Again these are all sensory points he responds to.
Janie is the opposite. She is not one for excessive touch. She doesn’t like hugs unless she initiates them. She loves tickles but not as Jimmy does. She loves to giggle with the tickles. I can calm her down by stroking her hair and calmly talking to her.
Every day is a learning day—simple changes. One day, Jimmy will want a squeeze hug, and then you can’t touch him the next. If you can touch him, he wants something else. No day is ever the same. I don’t think I will ever completely figure them out.
They both love the pool, but neither will swim. Jane will play by the pool and dangle her feet in the water, but she is too fearful of getting in. One day she was stacking the floaties, and she climbed on top, and they went out from underneath her, and she fell into the pool. I just happened to be in the pool and got to her quickly and had the opportunity to help her swim a little. She realized that her floaties kept her up and floated a minute with me. I didn’t force her to swim for too long as I didn’t want her to start getting anxious.
Jimmy will go to the steps and down to the second step and play in the water, but if he sees me coming toward him, he starts to freak out. I try to assure him I am not trying to pull him into the pool more. I am letting both of them go at their own pace. It is so funny when I am in the pool. Janie will say good job swimming, mommy.
I hope all of you are having a great summer so far.