Nate's Journey: Party Season

Party season is on us, and Nate has had a number of invites this year! Sadly though we didn't get to as many as we would have liked to, and not did we get as many photos as we should have from the ones we did get to, but we wanted to capture our memories around them anyway :-)

As to why we didn't get to all of them - it's mostly due to the behavioural challenges we have noticed with Nate this year. There is definitely some anxiety going on, and also some frustration which will be linked to his delayed communication skills. We haven't quite worked out the best strategies of how to help him, and us, manage this. But it definitely is impacting what we do and where we go. Nate is in his element when on his own domain, but take him out, and it can be a bit Russian roulette. Sure there are the typical 2-3year old behavioural elements going on, like tantrums when things don't go his way, or frustration, or even over-tired grumpiness. But there are also other times where his anxiety and behavioural challenges are very obviously more than that. Like new places, new situations, enclosed spaces, loud or over sensory places, and also when we aren't removing him from where he doesn't want to be, fast enough for his liking.

One of the more successful ones we did go to, was Oliver's third birthday pirate party which was in late November. Nate loved the trampoline, and also enjoyed watching a bit of the pirate show. We're thrilled when he gets the chance to interact and socialise like this :-)

We also got an invite to the annual Special Children's Christmas Party, sponsored by NZME and Sky TV. I thought I would try taking him, although I must admit I was worried!! Lots and lots of people, a completely new place, loads of sensory overload and noise....yep, there was some anxiety about what might happen - mine!!!

I decided to keep him in his pushchair (Nate's safe place) and let him have his dummy as a comforter, and actually he coped really really well. In reality he couldn't really get out of his pushchair as there would have been no one to watch it for us while he ran around, but we wheeled our way around the police cars with their sirens on, saw lots of dress-up characters, listened to the band play and watched the dancers, ate the free chippies, and got special permission (thank goodness, or we would have had to flag it as there is no way at all that he would have coped with that) to jump the llooonnnnnngggggg queue to get a goodie bag.

While I don't think you'd say his behaviour was typical, it was a lot better than I was expecting! One relieved mummy!

Bbbbbbzzzzzzzzz!

Watching R2D2 right in front of me - he's cool!

Right that's done....let's go! I'm pointing Mum, come on!

Seriously you're still here?! I'm outta here!

My goodie bag!

Playing with my new Doctor set!

Better check out my new Ted too....

Yep, seems okay....

And my first dinosaur set....RRROOAAARRRRR!

Another slightly less successful Christmas party was the Go Baby Go party that we were invited to. Go Baby Go are the charity group that loaned Nate the use of his mini-BMW red convertible. They are an amazing organisation, kindly supported and sponsored by BMW, and they help disabled kiddos like Nate. They had a Christmas party at the BMW headquarters and we went along to thank and support them.

Nate wasn't that keen on going in (new building, new people) even with all the little cars. Cue anxiety attack and Nate determined to leave before we even really arrived. We then spent a bit of time outside walking around the fountain, and tried again. Eventually we convinced him to spend some time in the corner of the room playing hide and seek behind the couch. He grew a bit of confidence with that, and was okay to stay in the corner. Eventually when the majority of the party moved off in to a side room, he plucked up the courage to run around and look at all the mini BMWs and we got a glimpse of the Nate we know and love. Sadly as he needed so much support, I didn't get a single photo of him, and he wouldn't participate in any of the official group photos :-(. So while not a complete success, I was pleased that we perservered through and convinced him to stay for a while and that he had a little fun too - a small step, but an important one.

We also had invites to Parties at Jumping Beans, Conductive Education, and at Bear Park. Our gift from Nate for Christmas from Bear Park is this awesome shot....

We also pre-booked a spot with Santa at Smith & Caughey this year, that meant we didn't have to subject Nate to a long queue. Well not that he would have stood for that anyway! Sadly the enclosed space of the room before Santa, where they have lots of trees and lots of sparkly lights and window displays with little moving elves, wasn't really to Nate's comfort so we didn't linger. And as for Santa himself....well he wasn't Nate's cup of tea either! Even with his dummy, blanket, in his safe spot of being in a pram, Nate wanted out just as soon as we got in! Oh well...we managed one semi okay shot anyway...better luck next year :-)