“More” Communication

It’s been a couple of weeks into Nick’s speech therapy and we’re starting to see a little progress.  The speech therapist is focusing on one concept at a time.  The first concept is communicating via sign language.  Our first word: “more”.  We have to work with Nick by asking him when he wants more of something and having him make the sign for it before giving it to him.  The last couple of days, he has actually given us the sign to ask us for something without being prompted, which is really good news.  On the flip side, it now means that Nick thinks that because he used the sign to ask for something, it automatically means he’s going to get it.  So when he asks for chocolate covered blueberries and it’s bedtime, he assumes he’s going to get it.  He made the “more” sign, right? 

So now we have to figure out how to communicate when it is and isn’t appropriate to ask for more.  We’ve also been battling him throwing food on the floor when it’s something he doesn’t want.  I almost sent him to bed without dinner the other night because I was so frustrated at him for throwing his food on the floor.  I have to keep reminding myself that he’s probably just as frustrated as I am, but it’s a constant struggle at times.