Progress?!?

Friday, Rose grew 6 years and then back 3.

Before I continue, I must go backward, again. When Rose moved in she pretty much flat out refused to get dressed, pick out her own clothes, do her own hair, change her underwear or put on pajamas. We had to cajole, bribe and yell to gain compliance. It, was, horrific.

Thanks to multiple reward systems, Rose started dressing herself. Then she started picking out her own clothes. When the stickers and points started piling up she put herself into jammies no matter how angry she was. She showered no matter how tired. (Behold the power of stickers.)

The only ritual remaining was us helping with her hair. Each morning she'd wake up and if she dressed by 7:10 a.m. we would wet her hair, apply product and comb it. We'd chat while all this happened. It provided a fun bonding and nurturing moment, one I figured Rose needed. Plus, she loved the time, and it motivated much more successful mornings.

Last Friday, Rose was getting ready for a family trip to Brueggar's before school. I went into the bathroom asking if she needed help, and she excitedly said, "Mom! I figured out how to do my hair myself, with product, and it's FASTER!" "oh, yea," I said, the doubt creeping into my mommy vocal cords faster then I could stomp it away.

"Yea" she said and she explained the truly rock solid method she'd figured out. So I nodded in shocked, deer in head light shock, approval before she ushered me out of the bathroom. I walked the three or four feet into our TV room where I got a little weepy as I re-told the story to Mike.

He tried to make me feel better by saying we knew Rose would want help tomorrow. I tried to let his words console me but couldn't help feeling a little in awe at how far she'd come. I also realized how I really liked some of her more developmentally delayed behavior. I sighed, pushed away the desire to have a baby and smiled.

Of course two hours later when I had to tell her to take the strange piece of metal out of her mouth. I pretended to be annoyed by scolding her, but really, it made me smile a little inside. Seriously, that girl's obsession with putting odd things into her mouth would fascinate Freud.