Engaging Jovie into therapy or play is like walking a fine line between happiness and sheer anxiety and terror, and this morning’s OT session was a fine example of it.
It’s not as though we set her off, or something happens to her like a fall or finising her food, so at the moment we can never really tell what it is that happens.
The first 15 minutes were BLISS. So happy to be there, so happy to see everyone. Huge smiles on the swing and even some lovely babbling and a couple of hand indications for ‘more’ swing. But suddenly and without warning, BAM, the ‘cloak’ comes over her beautiful face and she’s a different girl altogether.
Two therapists, one mum and a little girl that is no doubt ‘stuck’ somewhere. It was a hard session, even though we live it every day, it’s hard to explain to others that no toy, no swing, no funny face will settle my girl. We find most times that a change of scenery helps, but you can’t keep running. You have to find something.
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That’s my Jovie.
Tears, tantrums and teething grinding all done for the day, Jovie focuses in on the snack table at the playgroup Christmas party.
It’s like flipping a switch. A Jovie-sized switch.
