big bites

I've been really quiet here, and I don't really have one good reason for it. We started a new biomed program for Grant about 6 weeks ago, given that's how this blog started, you'd think I'd be sharing the experience. Grant has been doing fantastically well on his bike, given how much I've written about that, you'd think I'd be sharing the experience. Grant has been talking more, and has been communicating well at school with his Alphasmart, again you'd think I'd be sharing the experience. Why? I suppose it's just been a private time for some reason. I sit down to write and nothing comes out. I've also been a bit autismed-out; I haven't been keeping up on the news and I haven't been keeping up with peoples lives via their blogs.

But tonight, Grant ate all of his meat. HA - that is such a funny sentence to write. Seriously though, my hands were clapping in the air at the dinner table and we were cheering. When we started on this diet almost 2 years ago, we knew it would be tough but we were genuinely concerned about what he would eat. We were one of those "he'll never eat that" parents. But he has, and tonight, he did.

Early on, it was tiny, tiny pieces of chicken. He would gag. He would fight. He would cry. But, he didn't get any of the stuff he actually wanted (fruit, bread, etc) until he took some bites. Even with the tiniest of bites, he would gag. He just had no experience with that texture and he was really upset about having to eat it. Time, though, is an amazing ally. Night after night, he had to take bites. Gradually, he tried new types of meat and stopped gagging. Bigger and bigger bites, less and less struggle. Tonight, we had BBQ'd turkey burgers and he ate 1/2 of a burger - every single piece that was on his plate! Big bites, no problems.

I should mention that Grant doesn't have any motor issues with regards to food. It's purely a taste, texture, smell, sensation, experience - like it is for all of us, just more so.

It can be done. Don't give up if it seems impossible. Tiny bites with no options. Every time, be consistent and don't give in. You'll all be better off for it.