We received a trampoline from our neighbors yesterday evening. Because it was after dark, we just left it in the driveway; and we told Y that he could not jump on the trampoline in the driveway. Our driveway is mostly gravel, with some grass mixed in for good measure. Besides that, the power lines are only about three feet away from his head if he jumps on that side of the trampoline. We did not have time to put the trampoline in the back yard this afternoon.
Y seemed okay with that for a while, since we had the Wii up and running yesterday. He can't get enough of the boxing game we bought him. Remember our promise to buy him a video game when he could ask for it in English. Well, he did and we did. Bill wanted a system that would play Blu-ray discs as well, but only the Playstation does that and it costs $400-500. The Wii was only $250. I won that battle. Plus, as many of you know, the Wii makes you move around while playing some of the games, not just sitting on the couch exercising your thumbs.
Today after school, Y wanted to jump on the trampoline, but again he was told no. Bill showed him the Wii was working, so he seemed happy to box for an hour or two. I was sitting out on the back deck talking to my sister when I heard the door open by the driveway. A few seconds later, all of the dogs were over that way watching something very interesting. It seems Y thought he could get away with jumping on the trampoline if no one noticed (Bill was napping on the couch). He was told to get off of it, and he did. He went back to boxing. A few minutes later I told him he needed to take the dogs for a quick walk before we went to open gym night at the cheer/tumbling place. He was specifically told not to go outside by Bill (who had found out that he jumped on the trampoline again without permission - he did it once when only Bill was home and again when I saw him). So, Y opened the door, ignored both of us and went outside to the driveway. I followed him out, and lo and behold he jumped up on the trampoline. I immediately made him get off of it and both of us told him to go to his room for a few minutes. He said he understood he couldn't jump on the trampoline in the driveway. When asked why he did it again, after being told no three times, he replied that he had to get his shoes. His shoes were on the ground on the other side of the trampoline. Sorry, kiddo, the shortest distance route doesn't work in this case.
Y figured out the problem was the trampoline in the driveway, so, okay - let's move it to the back yard. NOW. We told him no, he would not be rewarded for bad behavior. Maybe we'll move it tomorrow. Maybe not. He argued a bit more, cried some crocodile tears and went to his room for a few minutes. I decided he needed to burn off some energy, so I told him we needed to walk the dogs before going to the cheer gym. Bill thinks I should've made him stay home, but I thought it would be good for him to get away from Papa for a little while. They were getting on each others' nerves.
So, walk the puppies we did and then we made the five minute trip to the cheer gym. Y was a little annoyed that he was the only boy in the place at first, but less than five minutes later three older teenage boys showed up. Lets just say they were good, awesome in fact. Y started watching what they did and trying to imitate them. They began talking to him and showing him how to do a couple of things, so that really broke the ice. Y then loosened up mentally as well as physically and he spent the better part of the next 90 minutes running, jumping and twirling to his heart's delight. Coach Jason took some of the better performing kids into another adjacent area and helped them practice routines and helped them with their form. He had Y practicing proper form for back flips and also practicing jumping higher while starting in a standing position (instead of the bent over position Y was used to).
All in all, I think he liked it. I asked if he wanted to come back on Monday afternoon, but he wasn't sure. I'm sure we'll at least be back every Friday night for open gym.
Earlier in the day, I got to have lunch with another adoptive mother. She adopted her daughter almost two years to the day before we adopted Y. We had a very long (2+ hours) lunch and discussed a lot of things. Her daughter has ODD and we discussed the possibility that Y may have it, too. She said it was good we were starting him in therapy right away. She wishes she had started her daughter sooner than she did, but things seem to be going really well for them right now. Y will have his first session alone with the therapist next week (along with a translator, we hope - we think we've got one lined up right now but it's not for sure).
We'll definitely keep in contact, if not make these lunches a regular thing.
A few bumps and bruises along the way, but not the worst day we've had yet.
Natalie
TX
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