Being Grandma/ Nana

One of the first thing we learnt at the PECS course was the concept of "being Grandma". Children love their grandmothers. Why? Because they are the source of all good things...they give the child whatever they want. Consequently they love to go to grandma's and will tend to do the odd little thing she asks of them, where they may resist doing it for Mum.
Therefore when you first meet a "student" its important to have lots of things around he might want...he then sees you as a source of good things and the therapist gets to see what motivates him.

OK...I obviously have one small problem. I am MUM...how can I be grandma too? The presenter said just pick times to be grandma. It makes sense, every child, indeed everybody liked to be "spoiled" on occasion. I know I do ;) I feel much more mellow and happy to do the things I have to afterwards.


Yesterday Liam and I went to the supermarket.

Liam loves the supermarket...there's lots of lovely aisles (great running tracks). There's colour.
Mum of course views all this with some trepidation. He could disappear.
I have dropped everything before and ran...there's no point yelling. (he won't respond and he's in running heaven). Furthermore there are lovely moving vehicles outside...therefore I cannot leave the front of the shop if I lose sight of him. I cannot risk him getting outside. (but what is he doing? Even running has its dangers, he won't necessarily take notice of anyone/anything else. What if he's got into something? I know he never has before, but...)
He may also collapse on the ground (I don't want to do this, go here, leave here...whatever). Hes not easy to pick up. Then there's waiting in queues (hard enough in itself, without being stuck between other people, bags and trolleys). Its also not easy paying for your shopping and holding on to your son at the same time.

I had a few items to get, a bag that sat across my body and both hand free. I was, therefore more relaxed. Liam was also very happy. He had had a good morning at his holiday programme and he was not tired. He was quite happy to hold my hand, even when I was happy to let go of his hand and let him have a bit of a run. It was a good positive experience.