Today's Lecture: Daily Therapy

DAILY THERAPY...
is the single most important contribution you will make to your child's future. No matter what your child's age, it is my very strong opinion that you HAVE TO participate in the exercises in person and be 100% engaged. Outside of the emotional distress of dealing with a child's disabilities, its the most difficult part, again in my opinion. Its exceedingly boring, your child will most often NOT want to do it, you will not want to do it (tho you have to) and it goes on for years. It takes up time and you are the only person to enforce it - except for the days you have regular therapy where you would either have to lie about doing it or stand before the therapist and admit you didnt find it a priority.

The attitude you exhibit to your child will help to determine how much of a struggle your therapy sessions will be. I'm a strong advocate of the no-nonsense, this-is-what-we-do-daily approach. I believe in bribes and punishments. I also believe in exhibiting empathy, and joking and trying to make it fun in the case of an older child.

When Gracie was first diagnosed and started seeing therapists, I was given a set of stretching exercises and told to do these twice a day. Instead, we did them five times a day. She cried from the minute we started them until we finished them, and this was extremely hard. I had to harden my heart to the crying (wish we had IPODs then!) and I just did it.

As she got older, she would fight me more about starting or do a really bad job or get silly as a way to avoid the work. I found setting a fixed time to do therapy was helpful. And I was very spontaneous (something that comes hard to me) with how I would deal with her in real time. I used music that she enjoyed but could only listen to while we were doing therapy. Treats are with us always. Note: They must be small tho - like M&Ms, or a very small amount of Nutella or a drink of pop. Things like that.

When she would become rowdy, I'd be swift in letting her know the punishment if she didnt stop and then I always would follow through. One spring she was giving me major difficulties so I threatened to eat the head off her chocolate easter bunny. She stopped immediately so I didnt have to (how cruel if I had to!) Another time I threatened to throw her doll out into the yard. She pushed and "Francie" had to watch the rest of therapy from outside on her face. Now I will let her watch 20 minutes of a movie (we do not have television) or I'll read to her or play a game after she is done if she does a good job. Not always - just when she is reticent about doing it. Also, I try to tease her into better moods on those days when she isnt cooperating or is complaining about how she has to exercise.

Remember, you are the adult. You are the one in charge. And you are the one who will have to answer for your failure to make daily therapy your priority. I wanted to do what is best for my girl and so daily therapy is just part of our life. I want to be able to look myself in the mirror and know I did not do just the best I could do but the best ANYONE could do. And, more importantly, I want to be able to look her in the eyes when she is an adult and say in all honesty that I did everything possible to help her overcome the effects of her stroke. Being a parent is my top priority.

Lecture for today is over!