Ryan has been seeing the most wonderful behavioral therapist for over a year. She has become an important part in helping Ryan and our family.  Today we had a session to discuss the goals we had set for Ryan three months ago and the goals we set a year ago for his behavior. As you have read here things are on an uptick but I didn’t realize how much of an uptick.

Ryan has met ALL the of the goals we set for him three months ago and a year ago.  His meltdowns were happening eight to ten times a day now might happen every few days and are very short in duration. He has discovered there are consequences for his actions and more times than not instead of fighting something we have to do like get dressed, eat, get in the car, take out the trash, and all the chores of living he does easily and we move on without cranky, grumpy, screaming, kid and get to do the fun thing we want.  The change in our family life is huge and this impacts everything. This is the most progress I have seen with Ryan’s behavior since he was four years old.  He has had more successful play experiences this summer than he has ever had before.  He has been gentle with little ones, appropriate with his peers, and less defiant with adults. Most days he is a joy to be around.

There are still issues. They are going to work on his severe anxiety that started this summer. Ryan is also not the best at transitions. She is going to work with him through the changes of school and hopefully keep his behavior on track during the transition back to school.  We discussed the changes we want to make to his IEP that include homework accommodations, OT in school after we received a big evaluation from CHOP that declared yes, Ryan has hand issues, I also want to make sure they don’t take away recess as a punishment.  Ryan moving will help him behave.

Even though we have issues to tackle he has come so far.  When telling the therapist about his improvements she said she got goose bumps because she was so excited to see such progress.  She asked me what was different this summer than the last two and I said this summer is the first time since 2009 that we are not in crisis. Both kids had multiple hospital visits the last two summers and my Dad died. It was intense. I discussed with her everything that happened over the last two summer and she said it sounded like this summer was just so different. I agreed.

I really do not want school to start. I just want endless days with the boys in the sun.  Tomorrow I am riding from my house to downtown Philly with Ryan and his friend, the friend’s Mom is going to take Aaron with her other kids.  I would of never attempted this last year. I can’t wait.