Good News Bad News

I have good news and bad news.  I say this a lot to the boys.

The good news is that we can go swimming when we get home.  The bad news is that we have to drive downtown to get Harry at doggie daycare first.

Sometimes they want the bad news first.

The bad news is that we have to go to the grocery store.  The good news is that Aunt Heather is coming over later with Jake (her new puppy).

Yesterday, Dylan said to me on the way to occupational therapy, “Mommy, I have good news and bad news.  The good news is that Aunt Heather is coming over later with “Jakie” and Brigett (Heather’s other dog).”  True!  “The bad news is that Daddy is working late tonight.”  Also true.  Boo.  (Sorry, Mike.)

Okay, my turn.  The good news is that Dylan had another challenging but successful picnic with his occupational therapist.  He begrudgingly ate one bite of macaroni & cheese (not the macaroni & cheese he usually eats) and three bites of a breakfast bar (not the breakfast bar he usually eats).  The bad news is that he won’t eat these foods for me.  Ever.

(Editor’s note:  New readers can catch up on Dylan’s sensory processing journey here and here and here and here.)  Or, click on “food issues” and “sensory processing disorder” in the “Looking for Something?” section to the right.  —–>

Bad news first this time. Dylan’s OT wants us to take him to a behaviorist to tackle his food issues and help him be successful with food in all environments – not just in her amazingly cool tree house.  She thinks that while Dylan may always have an underlying sensory sensitivity – smell, especially – he’s worked through his sensory problems and all that remains is bad habits and behaviors – habits and behaviors that are totally and completely linked to me.  Boo.  (Mommies always get it the worst.)  The good news is that a pediatric food behaviorist happened to be sitting in the waiting room at our OT’s office.  She told me the story of a patient who ate nothing but PediaSure – eight shakes a day, no solid food, not even water.  Now he eats normally.  I asked her how long it took?  She said, “Six weeks.”

Good news first this time.  We can call this food behaviorist any time and get started.  (My biggest fear is to be having this conversation when Dylan’s twelve.)  The bad news is that it’s totally and completely overwhelming (and expensive and time consuming).  We all want the best for our children and we all want them to lead happy, perfect lives.  We just have to remember that they’re human beings (just like we are) and human beings are all perfectly flawed.

Last one.   The good news is that I’ll do whatever it takes to help Dylan overcome this challenge.  The bad news is that sometimes it’s hard to see the forest from the trees.