It may have been a bit damp outside yesterday but it wasn't really cold. Instead of being locked up in the house a couple of the kids went to lend a hand cleaning and clearing up in the front garden and garage.
The grass and bushes were still pretty wet and after a while Jane had stomped around enough for Daddy to holler inside, "I think wellies would be better mummy! Jane go inside and get your wellies on."
As I approach the front door, Jane is stood on the porch with soggy looking shoes and her bottom lip sticking out. "Shhhh, but I don't want to wear wellies. They make me fall over."
I tried not to smile at the fact that she had tried to hide her confession from her dad. I opened the door wider and asked her if she had finished playing outside or not. Sensibly she came in and we popped her shoes on the dryer.
But her adorable confession reminded me of the difficulties the boys have in wellies. David in particular won't wear them. As part of their autism both the boys have sensory processing disorder (SPD). If affects them both differently.
David finds his level by spinning and squealing a lot. Anthony likes to jump but his biggest issue was falling over. We were in A&E twice before every cornered and edged piece of furniture was fitted with bumpers. Wellies were difficult for him too. They were just too awkward to work and required a bit more coordination than he had in those loose fitting boots.
David has a slightly different issue. As with many people with autism, David likes routine and sameness. He wouldn't wear wellies because they weren't his normal shoes, they were different. Not surprising really, it took us three weeks to get him to try his school shoes on.
Of course, for some kids with SPD, wellies would be essential as they might not be able to bare getting wet or cold.
Both our boys do a bit better now. Happily, a lack of wellies doesn't seem to stop them running around the garden. How do your kids survive the wet or cope with different clothes?
