Skipping RDI Class: Bad Mom & Pop? | Autism PDD

RDI is something that is beneficial to an ASD child/person at any age, so don't worry about any mythical "window of opportunity." You done right to keep things simple for now.

DITTO! DITTO! DITTO!

There was a 2 morning RDI class for parents to be held this morning and two weeks down the road, each 3 hours long and about 30 minutes away. We signed up, but forgot to pay the deposit. I had time to pay it, but punted yesterday.

Because Cole started school yesterday - and last year he had horrible anxiety over school-year start up for two months - we decided to bag it at the last minute. This may not be offered for another year!

We are just overwhelmed right now with activity related to the boys, and I can't fathom truly whipping out the new camera, staging play, bothering to learn how to copy and email the images, and getting onto the RDI program right now. Its like getting ready to start working out again...you have to have your legs under you and be prepared.

We rationalized that the way we interact with Cole is very similar to what we've read about and seen on You Tube. I dumped my career the minute he was born so early, and took on helping him AS a career. We didn't know it was RDI we were doing until we read up this year.

We kept the sitter but moved her from 8:30 am to 3PM so we can work out and go out to dinner, movie. We are still leaving, but not first thing in the morning.

I just want to walk on eggshells with leaving Cole and had no idea how awful yesterday could've been. It was fine, though, but he did get up the night before school at 2 and not go back to sleep until 5:30! He got back up again at 7:30.

Are we going to mommy and daddy hell?

I agree--you did the right thing. Taking care of yourself and your marriage is much more important at this point. Epspecially knowing how much you do for your son. So, no you are not bad mom and pop.flip39305.5395023148

Don't fret about it. Lowering your stress level by doing things for yourself can be just as beneficial to him as knowing the latest RDI techniques. It would be one thing if that had been your one and only chance for autism education, but you learn something new here every day, I bet, so seminars are strictly optional!

Have a good weekend.

My husband and I rarely went out by ourselves at night. We just started
doing this recently. What a nice thing to do, unwind and reconnect with
your husband on a date. It is nice that you took this oppurtunity. There will
be plenty of other times to do workshops and start new programs. I think
many of us are so used to thinking autism 24/7 that we forget that we have
to make time for other things. Balance is key isnt it? You sound like a
wonderful Mom, hope you had a good time.

I would have done the same thing. You're a great mom for considering Cole before some class.

You probably are already doing RDI with Cole. For that matter, you're also probably doing Floortime. I was essentially doing it for years before I knew what it was called. Same thing with sensory integration therapy. Professional consultants are great, but it's not like you haven't been doing anything with Cole all these years.

In today's day and age of the internet, you can always find someone to help you if you want to start something more formal before the next workshop. I'm sure there are "consultants" here who could also guide you.

Cole is lucky to have such a funny, creative mother who watches out for him!