Prior to Son-Rise, many of the ways we felt we were “helping” our son to learn to be part of our world was forced. Statements like “quiet hands”, “Look at my eyes and I will get you what you want”, “Here is a sucker if you do X.” Everything was conditional. Only until after running Son-Rise for a while, did I notice the impact and damage we had done to my son’s self esteem and ,not ability, but his want to be part of our world that had disintegrated over time. Everything to him was conditional. He would literally put the reward up front before he would do anything that I, my husband, his teacher, etc. requested.
We were in a sense telling him, don’t be you, be like I want you to be and do what I want you to do, and you will be rewarded. That message, although subtly given and not our intention, caused him to slowly over time give less affection to those around him until he was all but gone. It happened so slowly that I never even noticed, until it came back almost instantly with Son-Rise.
I remember doing my first Son-Rise session with Lucas and joining him, which is the cornerstone of this program….being in their world, enjoying what they enjoy…that he literally stopped in awe, looked at me, smiled this huge beautiful smile and then hugged me from behind. It was in this moment that I began to cry and realize the impact of what we had done. I was previously not showing him how wonderful he is, how wonderful we are, how rewarding and how much fun it is to have a human relationship. I knew this program was what I wanted for my son. I wanted him to know he was valued and that we loved every part of him, including his autism, his uniqueness, his beautiful nature.
I am ecstatic to say that Lucas has really broken through another level in the Son-Rise program!!! He enjoys being with people and wants to interact! He regularly asks for hugs, smiles constantly (whether in pain or not from his inflammatory bowel disease), says hello with intention in and out of the playroom! In the playroom, majority of the time is spent interacting. Lucas is now breaking up words and sentences and want us to be a part of it, almost as if he is trying to have his version of a conversation. I truly don’t know where we’d be if we hadn’t found this program and the many gifts it has already given us.
We have so many beautiful people in our lives now, feel present in every moment, cherish the important things in life and it has totally transformed us. My son is our gift of a more fulfilling, joyful life. My husband and I will be forever thankful for the impression he has and continues to leave on us and the inspiration he gives us to change and grow.