Not so long ago, I posted about Grant’s ODD, and how difficult it’s been to manage historically. He has grown so much. I think several things have contributed to the changes we’re seeing: appropriate medication (probably the biggest single factor), hockey (he plays three times a week, and it helps him to burn off excess, restless energy), and communication (he knows how to talk about how he’s feeling and his ODD).

It’s sort of like the last 6 years didn’t happen. Or they happened differently. Grant is sweet and thoughtful – the boy he always was is now able to emerge. His teachers love him (his math teacher calls him Brad Pitt, because of his flowing locks), and he loves school. For story time the other night he wanted to solve math problems in his workbook from school. We went to the Holiday Bash at his school, and he knew everyone. I’ve never met someone so social! He hugged so many adults, who were all excited and happy to see him. We’ve been reading a “book” that his class made (each student explained how they’d design Santa’s suit and sleigh, and drew an accompanying picture), and at the end of each student’s contribution, he’ll say something like, “Layne is my friend!” or “Lilly sits next door to me.” Or he’ll say “Braeden is so creative!” In the past he’s struggled to connect with peers. He hasn’t wanted attention and his shyness has triggered his ODD behavior, making it difficult to make friends. But now he’s actively making friends, and has something nice to say about everyone.

He wants to cooperate in group situations, and he wants to help out at home. Last night he asked me if he can change the kitchen garbage (he’s too small still), because it needed to be changed. The elementary school puts on a Holiday Shop every year, where every item is $2. Grant took money in and purchased gifts for every member of the family (including Bea). He has hidden them in his closet (they came home from school wrapped already). It’s so cute. Grant accidentally (“accidentally”) purchased a game on my iPad – when I told him that wasn’t allowed, he said “well, can you just delete it and get your money back?” I told him no, it didn’t work that way. It was $2.15. He found me two dollars right away from his treasure chest, and I figured, close enough. A couple days later he brought me six cents and said “only nine cents to go!” I had forgotten, but he sure hadn’t. He eventually brought me two quarters “to make up for the wait.” He instinctively understands about interest, I guess.

He loves to be involved, and it’s becoming so much easier to involve him. He’s building a lot of trust up. He spent a Saturday a couple weeks ago with his grandparents and when he got home that evening he told me, “the new rule is that I go to nana and papa’s every Saturday after hockey and Tim Hortons.” I asked if anyone else knew about the rule, and they did not. But he’s managed to spend every Saturday since at his grandparents’ house, so he must have figured something out. We were all there last weekend to make our annual Christmas Cookie batches, and I looked out the window at one point, and Grant had taken the puppies outside to tire them out for his nana. He’s very good with them (they are infant pugs, and have a lot of energy in small bursts). He’s gentle and speaks so kindly to them – keeping his tone soothing. They overwhelm him at times (which is funny, because he himself is so rambunctious, but these pups really give him a run for his money), and he holds up his hands in surrender – which puppies do not understand. So it’s pretty entertaining to watch.

He is learning to talk about his ODD as a factor in his behavior, rather than something that defines him as a human. Instead of saying something like, “I didn’t do it!” or “I am bad!” He instead will say things like, “I know if I don’t take my pill, I feel my ODD happening.” He’s learning that if he misses a day, it doesn’t mean he’ll have a bad day – he can make his own choices, and his ODD isn’t his boss. He may just have to work a little harder.

I’m just very proud of him, is what I’m saying. He’s still the slowest eater in the entire world, but that’s just fine.