Celebrating the can-dos

Max's latest accomplishment: He's been throwing things upward—check out the bean-bag action! His occupational therapist recommended we get a bunch, along with a CD called Bean Bag Activities & Coordination Skills (catchy title, I know). The music's fun, and although Max doesn't always exactly follow the games, he's getting good practice holding and tossing. Guess which color bag he always wants? "Ur-ul!"

Sometimes, as weird as it may sound, I don't even realize Max hasn't been doing something until he actually starts doing it. Like this. It just never occurred to me that Max was a kid who couldn't toss a ball up.

This is an accomplishment for me, too. I've come a long way from the early years with Max, when I mostly focused on what he wasn't doing. I was so filled with anxiety about Max's delays. I was so freaked about what the future held.

Obviously, I still have my concerns. Lately I've been wondering when and how Max will be able to read and write. But I don't sit around despairing that he's not doing that stuff yet. Max is young; he still has lots and lots of time. Me, I've developed lots and lots of patience. Obsessing over the can't-dos sucks you into a vortex of despair; celebrating the can-dos keeps you going.