Simon's Perfect Day

Simon was brilliant yesterday. He woke up after a long night of sleep in a good mood. As I was getting ready for work he said "mommy, do you know what? I love you." He gave me a hug. He thanked me sincerely for changing his diaper. At work I got a fabulous chat from Bob: Simon was playing with a girl at swap. He was having a conversation with her about trains, about me being at work, and then they sat down in the library and read a book together. This, folks, is nearly miraculous. Bob said he was great all day. 

I got home from work and was racing around the outside of the house, telling us how his body needed a rest, and running again. He got his water when he was thirsty and ran again when he was ready. He was in tune and taking care of his own body. 

We had a family hug, and he leaned in close to us both then voluntarily, unasked, kissed us both. Later on we were roughhousing and I forced him to let me kiss his cheeks. He didn't tell me to stop, just giggled, and then kissed my arms and cheeks.On his own motivation. 

After dinner, he cleaned up with not even a single whine, and under his own direction. At bathtime, he put his ears in the water, getting part of his hair and face wet. I wrapped him tightly in his towel and he sat, compressed, in front of the fire for a long while before he asked for a book to read. 

I tucked Simon in under all eight of his blankets, and instead of shoving my face away, he gently asked me not to kiss him, and told me it scared him when I kissed him while he's laying down. Simon understood and explained his sensory defensiveness to a calm way. I turned off the lights and closed his door, and he was asleep in minutes. 

This, on the heels of halloween, after switching OTs and missing an appointment. This is what we're working for, these perfectly normal days. Of course it won't be like this every day, or maybe even often, and wouldn't without any sensory issues, but when things are especially hard, or I really don't want to put on my exaggerated happy face to get him to pick up a train, it will be good to remember that we're making progress, that sometimes, we'll have a really good day.