Water – Blessing & Nemesis
Water has been an excellent element for Jackson. It provides him deep pressure that is calming. He has participated in both water therapies as well as swam on a swim team, but unfortunately, water is also our nemesis.
Even a the age of 17, we can’t shake the constant need Jackson has to flush toilets or go into every public restroom to inspect and flush toilets – which at times is a scary adventure. A few nights ago, Jackson asked to take a nice hot shower. What this typically means is that he wants to sit in the tub with the warm water spraying down on him. We will usually time 10 minutes and then go get him out. However, after about 8 minutes my wife noticed the kitchen ceiling was leaking. The kitchen is located directly under Jackson’s bathroom.
I immediately ran upstairs where I found Jackson sitting in the tub with the shower spraying down on him as expected. Upon seeing me, Jackson turned around and said: “You’re an Awesome Good Boy.” Without hesitation, I spontaneously replied “You’re an Awesome Good Boy” as I visually surveyed the shower attempting to locate the leak. As I turned the water off, I looked down and noticed the tweezers in Jackson’s hand. I asked Jackson; “What’s in your hands”? To which he quickly responded; “You’re an Awesome Good Boy.”
This is an example of my wife’s superior parenting skills. She would have heard Jackson’s initial response and immediately associated the reaction with a level of guilt and identified the source of the problem much quicker. Wasting no opportunity, she would have gone into a back an forth language session to get as much out of the situation as possible. I was less focused on Jackson and more concerned about the water draining through our kitchen ceiling.
Jackson had been using the tweezers to remove every bit of silicone that was water-proofing the shower and drains. Why was he doing this not sure? Must have been fun.
Three days for the ceiling to dry and complete the repairs in the kitchen as well as re-waterproof the shower and an even longer three days of explaining to Jackson why he could not take a “nice hot shower.” It was all fixed, and, Jackson was back in the enjoying the deep pressure of water spray. Because he always is an Awesome Good Boy.
Husband, father, coffee connoisseur and lover of all things hockey. At 51 I sometimes wonder have I done enough. I have been married to my best friend for 30 years. She knows all my faults and loves me anyway, As a father of “almost always” perfect boys, I am always surprised at what life has to offer. It is messy, scary, thrilling, and always fun.
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