As time passes by Diego's development is more and more visible. He has become a real artist. His progress has been so wonderful this year. My Mom, who is here visiting, notices the dramatic changes even more than we do. His eye contact is way more consistent, his vocabulary is growing, his fine motor skills are amazing. His sense of humor is funnier than ever. We can now go out with him and it is a lot easier, he has a lot more self-control. And guess what?! He's spending an hour a day in a regular class with typically developing children! The rest of the day he spends in the special class. It's such an ideal situation for him right now. Diego is gradually being introduced to "the real world" and he's doing great in it. The way he plays with Natalie is a lot better too, closer to the way two regular kids play, but he still needs to do the same thing with other children that are not Natalie.
Our main goal with him right now is to develop more his social skills. Sometimes he says things that are not very welcome by other people, he needs to learn the social rules to keep himself out of trouble. The other day he was intrigued by a certain man's head (a bold head). Diego got close to the man and carefully observed his head, the man was really nice. Then Diego said: Wow! You have such a big head. How come do you have such a big head? Your head is really big and you have no hair at all... the man's wife started laughing and laughing, she could no stop. But the man didn't really know what to do :o it was so embarrassing! I asked the gentleman not to take it personally, but how could he do that?!
Things like that happen and Diego doesn't understand what's wrong with it because he's very literal. He describes what he sees as it is. But when it comes to people you can't always be literal because people get hurt. But he will get better at that, it's a matter of time. In the meantime we're really happy about our boy!
Yay for Diego!!!
Elsita :)
(In another note: the pendant from my previous post is already available)
Diego is so cute. My mom was a hairdresser for many years and when I was a little girl I asked one of her customers, why was her face cracking (she had a lot of wrinkles and wore heavy powder). My mom was so embarrassed. To be a kid. :)
Posted by: Mariella | March 25, 2011 at 11:22 AM
Yaaaaaaay, Diego has come so far in the past few years!!! You must be sooooo proud of him Elsita. He's so lucky to have such an amazing, supportive, loving family, big hugs to you all, xxx
Posted by: Lois Collins | March 25, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Congratulations to you, Diego! And to you, too, Elsita, Bill and Natalie...it is hard work!
Posted by: Rose | March 25, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Love the picture of Diego, so relaxed and still so hard at work. Just great to see that.
Have fun in the weekend to come.
Posted by: elizabeth | March 25, 2011 at 01:04 PM
As the adoring wife of a man with a big, bald head I must tell you that Diego's comment would have been accepted with great joy!
Oh, and I just bought one of your bird pendants. More joy!!
Posted by: Eleanor | March 25, 2011 at 01:09 PM
Yay for Diego! Yay for his Mami! Yay for his family! Yay for big, bald men! Please tell Diego that we always used to ask my favorite Uncle where his hair went, and he would always answer "one day I was driving down the road very fast, and it just flew out the window!" And, he ALWAYS stuck to his story! :) Such wonderful news about Diego.
Posted by: Katrina | March 25, 2011 at 11:01 PM
Funny original minds. (something to really love about them!) your entry reminded of my autistic brother when we were kids. For a while he had the bad habit of asking people how much they weighed. Should be a perfectly fine question to ask (like a shoe size or something), but in our culture it was not taken well. I smile to think about it now.
Posted by: christine brennan | March 26, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Big hugs to Diego :) So pleased he's doing this well!
I think most children need to learn social skills. My son the other day commented on a little boy (who was over weight) that he looked like the 'fat little boy' off Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Thankfully the boy didn't hear and I could explain to Max that it isn't polite to say things like that out loud.
xx for now
Veronika
ps: Katrina, your uncle's story made me laugh. What a great story to tell :))
Posted by: Veronika | March 26, 2011 at 12:10 PM
It is effective if you will train your kid, while he is still young. Don’t spoil him on the things the he wanted. Instead try to teach him a much significant though and the important of his existence.
Posted by: Dallas Search Engine Optimization | March 26, 2011 at 11:23 PM
I'm so glad to hear that Diego is doing so well. And you're right; practice will make things go even more smoothly later on. Way to go Diego! Way to go Mom!
Posted by: Colleen (bcharmer) | March 28, 2011 at 09:12 AM
Elsita, you and your family are super duper inspiring :)
Thank you so much for sharing!
Posted by: Valentina | March 28, 2011 at 02:30 PM
Diego is such a delightful lad
i adore it when children are so honest about their observations.
One little girl in my office asked me if I had just been out for a walk in the snow. I said no I had not but was intrigued as to why she thought so. She said it was because I had some white ( grey) hairs. I told her I guess that must mean I am getting wiser.
Posted by: margie oomen | March 28, 2011 at 08:44 PM
It's so wonderful to hear about Diego's progress! Bravo, Diego!
Posted by: Leigh | March 30, 2011 at 11:40 AM
sasSigo tu blog desde España, me gustan mucho los trabajos que nos enseñas y los textos que compartes.
Posted by: hollister clothing | May 12, 2011 at 11:40 PM
That's why people enjoy him. He does and says the funniest things.
Tonight he said: Mom, do you know that the duck season is a very important holiday?
Posted by: abercrombie london | May 13, 2011 at 12:43 AM