SMO Guilt

SMOs (small ankle braces designed to provide support and proprioceptive input) have been the bane of my existence for several months. My life is crazy. It is summer and all the kids stay barefoot, donning flip-flops only if we leave the house. Putting socks, tennis shoes, and SMOs on Eon first thing in the morning and again after nap time was not working for me. I kept trying to find a way to make it work, but mostly I just lived with nagging guilt that he wasn't wearing them as much as he should.

Then, I began to notice that, without them, he was standing independently and even taking steps. With them, he would barely pull to stand and cruise. He spent a great deal of time pulling at the straps of his shoes trying to take them off. I felt like they were interfering with his independence and mobility.

Remembering that the PT was uncertain initially if he even needed them, I decided to approach her and confess my negligence in this area. When she showed up last week, he was barefoot. I told her all I just shared with you. She agreed with me that we don't want to slow him down and that we can add them back in once ambulation becomes his primary mode of mobility. I was thrilled and amazingly relieved! It's the first time I've bucked the system, so to speak. (Well, except for when I d/c'd OT, but I am an OT, so that shouldn't count...right?)

This week, we met at the park for PT and she was amazed with all he could do. He climbed the stairs and she worked with him on coming down (not so great at that, yet:), he climbed the slide, took a step or two in the mulch, stood independently for over a minute several times, and took several steps in a row on the pavement. He was wearing his shoes, but no SMOs. I think he enjoyed showing off! He also learned the word "hot" from where the sun was shining on the equipment and used it repeatedly! He did so much more at the park that we're meeting there next week, too.

Oh! She was letting him rest on her lap in the shade for a minute and he started signing "play". That's the first time he's used that sign without prompting. That was our added bonus for the day! :)