Guest Posts and Parent Testimonials
If you would like to submit a sensory story, sensory journey, or how "Understanding Your Child's Sensory Signals" has changed they way you parent your child...please submit your post or story here!
Guest Posts by: Sensory Speak
I Cry, Therefore I Am
Comfort in the Midst of Chaos
Sensory Success!
Success story of a 3 year old girl Written By: Her Mom
A year ago...in comparison to the present• Only wanted to wear footed blanket sleepers-then graduated to clothes with tights under. Now wears anything!• 1st percentile for weight- now 10th!• So picky, would hardly eat anything.- Eats much, much more.• Cold water made her cry from pain. – Played in a lake/river the last 2 weekends!• Standing barefoot in sand or grass made her cry. – Runs in sand and grass barefoot!• Clung to me sucking her thumb most of the day. – I rarely hold her now!• Refused to socialize most of the time. Even with Grandparents/cousins/ and good friends. – Hugs Grandma, plays with cousins & friends. Even has a friend she has play dates with!• Woke up throughout the night crying. – Sleeps most nights all night long.• So terrified of balloons we couldn’t go near one even in a store. – Told me she likes balloons now and isn’t afraid of the pop because she can cover her ears.• Never ventured anywhere but the swings at the park. – Goes on slides, monkey bars, bridges, balance beams, willingly and happily! Went down a water slide with cold water spraying on her!• Screamed most mornings on the way to sister’s school. – Now happily climbs in her seat and sings to Taylor Swift. ☺• Looked pale and gaunt. – Looks healthy and full and rosy in the cheeks!• Fought with me over every little item of clothes to put on. – Happily tries on new clothes and wears what I tell her to.• Refused to separate from me and only did so with lots of tears and anxiety. – Goes to preschool and her friend’s house happily!• Spent most of her days screaming and crying. – Spends most of her days happy and acting like a typical little girl.• I couldn’t vacuum or turn on the blender because she would get so freaked out. – Vacuumed today! When the noise bothers her she covers her ears without screaming.• Was hard to enjoy parenting. –Brings me so much joy!!!
A year ago...in comparison to the present• Only wanted to wear footed blanket sleepers-then graduated to clothes with tights under. Now wears anything!• 1st percentile for weight- now 10th!• So picky, would hardly eat anything.- Eats much, much more.• Cold water made her cry from pain. – Played in a lake/river the last 2 weekends!• Standing barefoot in sand or grass made her cry. – Runs in sand and grass barefoot!• Clung to me sucking her thumb most of the day. – I rarely hold her now!• Refused to socialize most of the time. Even with Grandparents/cousins/ and good friends. – Hugs Grandma, plays with cousins & friends. Even has a friend she has play dates with!• Woke up throughout the night crying. – Sleeps most nights all night long.• So terrified of balloons we couldn’t go near one even in a store. – Told me she likes balloons now and isn’t afraid of the pop because she can cover her ears.• Never ventured anywhere but the swings at the park. – Goes on slides, monkey bars, bridges, balance beams, willingly and happily! Went down a water slide with cold water spraying on her!• Screamed most mornings on the way to sister’s school. – Now happily climbs in her seat and sings to Taylor Swift. ☺• Looked pale and gaunt. – Looks healthy and full and rosy in the cheeks!• Fought with me over every little item of clothes to put on. – Happily tries on new clothes and wears what I tell her to.• Refused to separate from me and only did so with lots of tears and anxiety. – Goes to preschool and her friend’s house happily!• Spent most of her days screaming and crying. – Spends most of her days happy and acting like a typical little girl.• I couldn’t vacuum or turn on the blender because she would get so freaked out. – Vacuumed today! When the noise bothers her she covers her ears without screaming.• Was hard to enjoy parenting. –Brings me so much joy!!!
My Girl – Before and After OT
Success story of a 5 year old girl Written By: Her Mom
- I stopped wearing my wedding ring because she refused to touch metal...now holds my hand regardless if I have a ring or not
- Sat with her preschool teacher on a bench during recess...now leads a pack a friends in games of tag
- Refused to wear any pants with buttons – i.e. jeans...now wears a variety of jeans and corduroys
- Wore headphones on airplanes, at concerts, and noisy venues...now has given her headphones to her brother
- Scared of all men, even father's of her friends...now chats freely with all adults – even requested a male teacher
- Never wanted to be left alone at ballet and gymnastic classes...now gets drop off for play dates, ballet, and piano
- Scared of most park equipment...now loves swings and slides and even roller-coasters
- Wore her hair in braids everyday to keep it from touching her neck...now wears her hair long
- Required us to arrive early to most events in order to “warm up” to the different environment...now is known to arrive quite late with no problems
- Needed a strict schedule to feel secure – any changes would cause a meltdown ...now allows us to live a flexible, fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants life
- Had a challenging time relating to kids her age – holding conversations, making eye contact...now has an active social life full of play dates and birthday parties
- Scared of swimming pools – never wanted to put her head under water –didn’t like the sensation...now has completed 2 years of private weekly swim lessons where she just mastered the butterfly
- Stood behind me, painfully shy in group situations...now performs at piano recitals on stage and sings along to her pieces
- Allowed her fears, and SPD to prohibit her from living life...now she puts fun over fear and is free to play, run and to be happy