Finding his own Personality

allowing A.J. to be himself can be portrayed in many ways... 

Days are flying past us at such an unimaginable rate, and we never seem to find the time for the little things.

It only feels like yesterday that a little frightened, timid, 18 month old bundle came to live with us, and yet I see this handsome 14 year old standing in front of me, already beginning to tower over me.

A now confident inquisitive teenager wanting to explore the world he lives in, questioning anything and everything he encounters.

As he gains more confidence to take yet another step towards independence, we still see the signs of insecure, indecisive, emotional, and physical restrictions that can so easily revert him into a huddle at any given time. Yet this still won't hold him back when positive moments take hold.

No matter how well he progresses I still have so many question his behaviours and mannerisms, his routines and rituals, asking us -

 "How can it be that he is so intelligent and knowledgeable and yet so immature in other areas?"

My response is always, he is his own person, we all have our own personality, quirks and mannerisms, and he has the right to express himself his way, anything to make him happy.

I will always support his choice to be himself, to help him get through the day with a positive outcome.

I don't pamper to his disabilities, although we do address and learn from them.

We encourage A.J. to grow and strengthen his personality and every part of his being however he wants.

Teaching him to empower himself in the areas he has confidence in and utilise those powers to overcome the areas he struggles with.

Encouraging him to be proud of who he is and to never allow others to control his outcome, to do the things that make him happy and not to please others.

To be respectful and courteous, but never change his beliefs.

All my children were raised with the understanding they have a voice and the right to an opinion, no matter how it may differ to others, no-one has the power to take that away.

I see so many more opportunities for A.J. since he began high school.

Finally connecting with much needed support services within the school environment, he has also met a great group of people willing to help support and guide him through the different stages and difficulties he faces, rather than not wanting to deal with it and sending him home instead.

 A.J. has began to come out of his shell and is growing in a positive way, all from the positive environment and people surrounding him. They too have gained so much from seeing him flourish and grow, as he learns to contribute back with his knowledge and the abilities that are slowly opening up to him.

With all this growing and finding himself, A.J. has also found the world of fashion and style. Well, his version of.

After growing his hair for the past year he came to me asking about changing his hair colour, and what I thought. With the school holidays in full swing I felt it okay to let him indulge in a little personality.

And then it came........ "I want to try BLUE!!!"

Ummmm okay.

Ohh well, I can try some wash-out mousse, at least it won't be in long if it doesn't work out the way he thinks.

So I head off to the shops and purchase everything needed, and return to do the unthinkable and dye my grandson's hair Blue......

So we took the steps, and waited in time, then washed it out, all the while A.J. happily chanted and chatted about how cool it was going to be.

I myself was cringing in fear that he would be horrified by the outcome.

But true to my word, I can't say be yourself, without allowing him the chance.

After washing it out and waiting for his hair to dry we finally see the results.

WOW!!!!!!

Not too bad at all, a lot different than I would have imagined, his hair has gone from blonde to almost a mousey grey with the blue tinge throughout.

............and A.J.'s response ......"I luv it!!!"