I vacuum a lot.
I have no shame in admitting I am a bit of a neat freak. In my quest for order and cleanliness, the floors have always been at the top of my list.
I think I vacuum a lot because I am unable to focus if there is disorder around me. And the floors take up the largest amount of space – the greatest area for possible disorder.
I have a vacuum on every floor, even the basement. And yes, I vacuum so much that I must replace a vacuum every year.
It is when I vacuum that thoughts pop up about what I want to write about, or how I want to write a post in general. Conversation? Information? And if I get stuck on an idea while writing a post, I am off to find my vacuum and take care of another (already cleaned) floor.
I run 1-2 hours a day. You would think my greatest thoughts would come during this time. I mean, what else am I doing with my mind? But they don’t. I honestly couldn’t tell you what I think about when I run.
It’s not running. It’s vacuuming.
Yesterday I posted Some Things get Easier. It was about support provided to my husband and I from another couple with an older son on the autism spectrum.
I thought about that conversation after watching Declan jump on the sofa and when we might replace the furniture.
It was when I was vacuuming last night, and again this morning, that I realized there was a lot more I could say about things getting easier.
I thought back 4 years. Declan was 2 ½ years old. Words that he could once speak disappeared. He never played with toys. He didn’t sit to watch TV. He didn’t sit at all. Always on the go, completely oblivious to danger. Only sleeping a couple of hours, a night. Sensory seeking. Aggressive. Unable to be around peers as he hurt them.
And me? Trying my hardest to stay 2 steps ahead of him, keeping him occupied and safe. Most of time, however, I was 2 steps behind cleaning up so mess with a first aid kit in tow.
We discovered Declan liked music. He couldn’t speak but could sing the entire Frozen soundtrack. We gave him a trampoline. We gave him Melatonin with our Dr.’s guidance. Services were provided to Declan to help him with his aggression. To help him socialize with peers.
Four years later I see Declan jumping on the couch listening to his favorite songs as he does every morning.
What do I really see?
Learned coping skills.
Yes, he has a trampoline downstairs and he uses it when he goes down there. But in the morning, it’s the sofa. The sofa meets his sensory seeking needs.
He loves music. We used it to help him with his speech but also as a coping skill, like I talked about in my post Trigger Words. He can maneuver through his device on his own as well.
He still doesn’t play with toys. He still is not one to sit. He still has trouble sleeping through the whole night but is doing better.
Four years ago, I didn’t know what the heck I was doing. At most I would say I was surviving.
But it is good to look back and see the things we introduced to help him then are the things he is turning to now, on his own, to meet his needs.
That’s amazing!
(P.S. This post was brought to you with 0 extra trips to the vacuum cleaner for guidance)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orsd3oK8ALs
We
Sorry…Hit a button. We could all learn some coping skills!
I agree! I may have some, but not all are healthy (hello wine!). Would be great to trade the bad ones in and learn some new ones!
Lol so true! There are certainly some destructive methods out there!
It’s definitely good to look back and see how much progress has been made! We are only using a pull-up at bedtime now😮 I honestly thought this would never happen because he just didn’t care.
We have tile throughout the house. Sigh, no vacuuming for me. It would probably just make the dog bark anyway 😂
That’s great! The progress can be hard to see at times – sometimes I forget. Tile! That would be tough. Molly tries to attack my vacuum sometimes and it drives me nuts! Messes up all my vacuum lines 🙂
I have a friend whose son is deaf and blind. When he was young he would put on music very loudly ( he can hear some of the vibration of the bass ) and he would jump on the bed( which was a mattress on the floor so he did not fall off) like Declan does . He is grown up now but I always remember her telling me about this.
Hi Robyn. This post makes me smile. I am also a tidiness and cleanliness freak. My sons say I have obsessive compulsive disorder when it comes to cleaning up. It is definitely a kind of coping mechanism for me and helps me focus my thoughts, the same goes for gardening. I am always on the go and have to be so I don’t get overwhelmed by negative thoughts.
Yes! Me too. I also take to gardening and caring for my house plants for the same reason 🙂
We do not have any carpeting in our house. Keeps the allergens down. I used to be a neat freak back when I was still able to walk on my own. Now, not so much because cleaning from a wheelchair takes too much out of me. I have adapted so much to being confined to a wheelchair for years. Looking back depresses me to much because of all I have lost. Have no job, few friends, and a cat that bites!
I am sorry, Jeanette. I hope something positive finds you today! Thinking of you!
Glad to learn about Declan’s progress! 🙂
🙂
Vacuuming? Hahaha. So funny. But anyway, things do get the much easier as we deal with them again and again. Well done and thanks for the vacuuming tips. 🌹
Hahaha… I know – Something about that vacuum! Cleans the floor, clears my mind 🙂
You’re my hero! How anyone can find something positive in vacuuming is beyond me :O) Lovely post x
Haha! Yes, I guess it is a little odd – but vacuuming is the best! 🙂 Thank you x