There was a day I was afraid to let go of his hand.  The possible consequences ignited panic.

Since that time, John has earned a long, nearly-endless rope, inch by inch, by his many good choices. (You know he also made a lot of lousy choices along that path, right?)

I have had to stand my ground, make him come back to me as he tests my resolve with his mischievous faux escapes.  (He thought he was hilarious and I was seeing possible disaster.)

Eventually, rope earns more rope.

And now I test his intrinsic motivation as we pull into the parking lot of his beloved i9 basketball camp.

Will he stay in the car until I park so he can turn off the car (new quasi stim) or grasp the freedom to enter solo as I stop at the curb?

All that rope to do the right, “big boy” thing that he sees other children doing—to go inside the building on his own, and tell them he is here.

Or to choose fear, hesitation, the ignition button stim?

One decision path leads to his future, your child’s future, in this neuro-typical world.  The one neuro-typical world we all want so desperately to share with our kids.

Our kids who need to have opportunity to earn more rope.

As John says, “practice brave”.  Stand your ground.

Peace be with us,

Gayle