"Real" Chicken!

As the years have gone by, Samuel has gotten more particular about the food he eats. I have noticed he reacts to the smell and the texture. Years ago, he ate all his baby food just fine and started out on table food, but by the time he was three or four he would no longer eat pasta, with the exception of macaroni and cheese. He began to turn that away at about age six, at which time he would no longer eat hamburgers that I cooked at home (he eats fast food burgers without a problem).

Anyways, his repertoire of mealtime entrees now consists of chicken nuggets, fish sticks, pizza, grilled cheese and hot dogs. Even though he is rather particular, I feel fortunate that he eats the "variety" of food that he does. He eats canned green beans and carrots, applesauce, canned peaches and pears, raisins, and fresh apples and grapes. For convenience sake, especially having to deal with additional siblings and a husband to feed, for several years I did not push the issue of expanding the food horizons of any of my children. That is beginning to change. On the evenings that I don't prepare spicy food for the adults, I have been getting my children to sample other food. It has been going quite well, especially with my youngest son and daughter. Samuel, on the other hand, hasn't been so cooperative.

On Sunday I prepared a roasted chicken for dinner. I decided to throw down the gauntlet with Samuel and make him sample it. He protested loudly and ran away from the table. I let him sit in the family room adjacent to our kitchen while we ate. I did not give in and prepare a few chicken nuggets for him like I usually do. My husband and I kept telling him, "This is what your chicken nuggets are made of. This is "real" chicken!" The rest of us ate and went on our way. As I was doing the dishes, before I really even had a chance to think about Samuel eating, he came into the kitchen and said "Okay, I'm hungry, I'll eat chicken." (There was a tone of defeat in his voice - he can be so dramatic!) I sat with him and put a small bite of chicken on his fork. He smelled it as I put it to his mouth and he started to balk, but I urged him to try. At first he just touched it with his lips and within several tries he ate it! Then he ate the rest of it himself. I couldn't get him to touch the steamed carrots and mashed potatoes, but I was still thrilled with this little victory!

Happy Thanksgiving!

To those in the U.S., I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving! If you're not in the U.S., well then I hope you're having a wonderful day as well! Samuel's Godfather (who joins us for most holidays) is with us. We tried going to mass this morning. Samuel was scripting an episode from "Rugrats" that included Reptar making monster noises, so we weren't able to stay in church for very long.

I had the kids make these wreaths so they could be mindful of what they are thankful for. My eldest is the one thankful for his go-kart; Samuel is the one thankful for National Geographic (he has several of their videos from the library right now); my youngest boy is grateful for his TEDDY bears; and I figured my little girl is probably thankful for her new baby doll, which she asks for every bedtime and nap time.

After the kids made their wreaths they got to play with shaving cream on the table. It has been a while since they have done this so they had a good old time!

Watching Television, Education Challenges

One of Samuel's favorite activities is watching television. Watching Samuel watch television can be kind of entertaining too! I took these photos on a recent lazy Sunday morning. When certain advertisements or shows appear on the screen, Samuel will cover his ears and recently I have heard him singing while he is covering his ears. Then, if the visual images get to be too much he will run out of the family room.

The first signs of Samuel having odd behavior while watching television were when he was two years old. He had watched "Arthur" for months, but one day when it came on the screen he ran out of the family room screaming and crying. It was several years before he could watch it on television again. It's not that he doesn't like the things he is seeing or hearing; this is what he does for the things he likes, but I guess he just doesn't know how to handle the pleasure that it brings him!

I'm still struggling with my increased teaching responsibilities this fall. I'm continuing the ABLLS assessment. My attempts at finding consultant help aren't going as well as I had hoped. One contact will not return my phone calls, another is way too expensive, and another wants me to go to a Dr. Carbone workshop. That's all well and good, but kind of difficult right now when the only ones I see on the schedule entail travelling out of the area and probably mean an overnight stay. I'm also dealing, really for the first time.. teaching Samuel some new concepts. Besides Samuel's different behavior, this is the first real struggle I have had with trying to work with him at home. I have to remember that there will be a lot of trial and error and that I shouldn't let a few challenges get me down!

Assessment Time

This past week marked the end of the first quarter of third grade for Samuel. As I have been saying, I have put a lot of time into preparing lessons and working with Samuel. I really need some direction and guidance on where to take Samuel's school work from here. I just got the "ABLLS", Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills and will be slowly doing this assessment on Samuel over the next few weeks. I heard this assessment mentioned by a friend of mine years ago, but I never had it done on Samuel. Now I can't believe that it has taken me so long to check it out!

I am hopeful that the assessment results and (hopefully!) obtaining the help of a consultant will give me some good direction. The last thing I want is for him to get bored or frustrated!

I'd love to hear what assessments others have had their children do, and what you think of it.