1. They share super powers

Our sensory kids experience the world in a way that many of us do not and they invite us into these experiences.  In other words, we engage in sensory experiences to try to understand why they might make our kids feel the way they do.

We feel objects, clothes, materials.  We stop and smell the aromas.  We sit with them through movement experiences – riding swings and going down slides long after we would have typically stopped.

A guaranteed way that we get a blown away look from strangers is when Jackson, our 11-year-old son with SPD, announces that he has Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).  Perhaps they are shocked that he is so open about it. Sometimes their questioning look is redirected at me but typically the stranger responds with a nod that says “I have no idea what you just said you have but now I just feel weird about it” and the subject of the conversation changes.  So this brings up the big question:  Do you tell your child he or she has SPD?

It’s that time of year…. Parent-Teacher Conferences. Some parents love hearing about their child’s successes, but some parents don’t have that experience. Instead they receive a troubling report.

If you’re reading this, you probably sat in the tiny chair in front of your child’s teacher and absorbed the classroom your child occupies five days a week.  You scoured the walls looking for your child’s artwork and reminisced on your own school days for a minute.

As the Parent Connections Group host here in Kansas City, I often get phone calls and emails from parents that are new to the SPD world. Often they’ve been told that their child has “sensory issues” by a pediatrician or at school but no one ever gives them any direction past that point. Many times no one has even explained what “sensory issues” mean much less what to do to help them. All this leads to a ton of frustration. As the mom of Jackson, my 11-year-old son who has SPD, I can completely sympathize.

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) has given me some scares as the mom of our 11 year-old son, Jackson. I have to say the worst of it all is his high threshold for pain.  Often time’s kids with SPD are on one far side of the spectrum of pain awareness and tolerance.  Many parents I talk to have kids with a very low tolerance for pain, while others like me will report their child having an incredibly high tolerance.

As a parent of a child with SPD and anxiety, I feel like the stars have somehow been out of alignment since that very first moment at the age of two, when I realized we had a serious issue on our hands.  Do not get me wrong! I absolutely love my daughter and her way of judging the character of people she encounters in her life.  The complex process of maneuvering evaluations is a topic for another day, not to mention the emotions that go along with that.

As my family settled into our yearly and cherished vacation in Cape Cod, I did not know I would be so touched by an experience outside our little group.  Every year, my family, my parents, and my sister’s family make the trek to Cape Cod and share a house on a hotel property with a private beach where we make our own special memories.  Our children have grown up going there and have the routine of going to the beach on the first full day. As we know, routine is very important to the child with SPD, which is the case for my middle child.

My oldest son was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) in 2008.

As a mom and teacher, I know how much work, time, effort and sweat goes into setting up a classroom every year.  You think about the setup of the classroom library and where the class will meet for a read aloud. You check to make sure every student has a place to work.  Supplies are checked and plans are made. You take pride in making sure the classroom is organized, colorful and inviting for your students.  You search the Internet for new ideas.  You refine your classroom policies and procedures and write a welcome letter to your students and parents.

I woke up the other morning and walked out on my deck to find a cool, crisp breeze blowing. Ahhhh, I thought and smiled. Fall is coming. While sitting there enjoying a warm cup of coffee and the quiet before the boys woke up, it dawned on me again with no smile this time. “Oh no, fall is coming,” and a disgruntled sigh left my body. If you’re an SPD parent you’ve more than likely had this same thought when you realize that with the upcoming season change your life is about to get crazy for a while.