1. What brings you here? After researching for many many months and reading "The Out of Sync Child"..I'm pretty positive my dd7 suffers from SPD. I've scheduled an educational eval with our local elementary school but because we are a homeschooling family our family has been pushed off the waiting list and it's a never ending battle. We don't currently have insurance so OT to me seems so out of our financial means, but I have been researching methods to help dd cope and already we see results! I kept thinking we needed a dr. to write it down on paper but after much thought dh and I know this is most likely what she's suffering from. And it's treatable with the proper therapy and diet. So we're looking for hope and support in that. Our pedi that we did take her to said that he doesn't know much about SPD but the little he did know about it he said our dd was text book SPD patient..which threw me for a loop because there are so many different levels to SPD.
2. What is your relations to someone with SPD? My dd7 suffers from SPD.
3. Share a little of your journey if you'd like. When I first began researching what was going on with my dd7's behavior I stumbled upon several things but most of them didn't fit her like SPD did. I never ever heard of SPD until I began looking into it more and was completely blown away that it's treatable through therapy and not medication. I bought the book I read about..and it arrived...and I left it on the shelf...ONE YEAR later things have gotten WAY out of control and I still haven't tried to help dd. I didn't even read a SINGLE page of the book. And I just have to admit that I assumed it would just go away. How terrible of me. I kept convincing myself that it was behavioral yet she was the easiest of my 3 children until all the SPD things began to surface and I didn't know how to handle them and instead of reading the book I had purchased and read more online and find support I would send her off to her room because of a meltdown or take privelages away from her when she would hollar too loud and wake up her brother from his nap....Now I see...I need to get support to help dd and to get our whole family in the game TOGETHER on this..
4. Is there any immediate help you need? I need emotional support. I need advice for how to handle dd. I need advice on how to cope with this all. I need advice on how to explain this to my other children. I need advice on which tools to get first and which to save up for and which to avoid altogether. And I would love tips on how to contact an OT that is willing to give advice for those that just can't afford the services on a regular basis.
5. SPD doesn't run your life! What are you or your child's gifts? Interests? Because we are a homeschooling family, we are able to enjoy the company of each other all the time. We don't attend hours apart events and we rarely go to regular gatherings. We as a whole family are very indoors. My dd and I are very extroverted but this past year we've had to mellow on the outings because the outbursts and behavior has been "embarassing". She's not a fit thrower or a mouthy child. She's an OVERLY excited child and tends to hug and cuddle EVERYONE...and I mean EVERYONE! So now we enjoy studying animals and other things that interest her. We do crafts that she shows interest in and we enjoy a good book and movie together too! She has a little sister who is 5 and a little brother who is 22 months old.
6. What do you like to do in your spare time? Any hobbies or interests? I love to research! If I could be a researching and get paid I'd be the happiest bee in the hive! I love to craft of all sorts and I do enjoy homeschooling, when the weeks is going right starting on Monday...