So I have another story for you today.
I’ve been working with a family for about half a year now. When I first met Mom, she really wasn’t connected to her son. During our first visit, she leaned in and was teachable —bringing her son close, holding his hands, and speaking to him while looking into his eyes.
Here’s the thing about this little boy: he is on the spectrum and, for the most part, nonverbal.
As time went on, Mom was having some challenges during bath time, specifically with him wanting to get out of the bathtub. I introduced a visual timer—a simple tool to help kids see time moving. Many children with complex trauma don’t have an internal sense of time, so this visual support regulating. The timer ended up staying in their bathroom.
In the last couple of weeks, her son came home from school extremely hungry. Mom had already started cooking and told him, “The food is cooking. It’ll be done soon.” Her little boy went into the bathroom, grabbed the timer, and set it so he could see how long it would take.
What a beautiful win.
To see this child—who has been locked inside his own body and mind, with very few words to communicate—use a tool to express his need and help his mom understand him is incredibly powerful. When given the opportunity, he was able to share, to see, and to let his mom know what he needed.
I love my work. I love seeing the wins. I’m grateful for this season, and grateful for all the trials that allow me to help families find freedom, healing, and hope.
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