2.14.13

Some good news today - Wyatt had an eye exam, and his vision is actually improving!  Unfortunately everything was an effort at the appointment. This was his 4th eye exam, third in the last year and we've never had any issues before. It was beyond frustrating - thankfully his optometrist was very patient but I was ticked. This whole sensory processing disorder thing is just damn frustrating at times. Because today I don't think it had anything to do with SPD. I think it had a lot to with a very intelligent 4 1/2 year old who knows that he's different somehow, and he knows how to use that to get out of doing things that make him even a little bit uncomfortable.
For example:
When he had his SPD testing, the occupational therapist noticed that after spinning him and having him look at the wall, his eyes had no nystagmus (the involuntary eye movement you experience after spinning - basically what makes you dizzy). She thought it was so bizarre, but a huge indicator that his vestibular system is out of whack.  However - when put into uncomfortable situations, before resorting to crying, Wyatt will often claim that he is dizzy.  We used to get confused about this, because he would complain about it during activities that should not make him dizzy. And now that we know that he will not get dizzy, it's clear that he uses it to manipulate. I mean, who's going to push a kid who says he's too dizzy to do something?
So herein lays my frustration. When do we push him, because he's just being stubborn, and when do we step back and accept that it's something he may not physically or mentally be capable of doing?