celebrating milestones

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I just wanted to post about what I consider a major improvement for my dd w/OCD

and remind all of us to look at progress (how far have we come up from our

lowest point) rather than how far we still have to go. Our 10.5 yo dd was very

tired today after a sleepover at another child's house on Halloween. There was

no school here today due to a teachers' professional day, but she had an

afternoon activity for a couple of hours and then had to come with me to pick up

her sister at gymnastics.

When I picked her up from her friend's house, she told me she had used the

bathroom there twice this morning (a child who for over a year could not use the

bathroom at a friend's house due to her lengthy washing rituals). While waiting

at the noisy crowded gynastics facility, I noticed that she was squirming and

suggested she use the bathroom. Rather than deny that she needed to go (which

she routinely did until recently), she got up and went into the single stall

bathroom. Apparently, she did not know how to lock the door as a mom with a

little boy mistakenly started to open the door. Lynn called for me and the

woman, of course, apologized. After she finished in the bathroom (took a little

longer than usual, but not much), she noticed another mom changing a small girl

into or out of her leotard in the waiting room (as my dd had been in the

bathroom). A year or two ago, any one of these things would have been enough

to send her into prolonged

washing rituals or a rage and demand that we leave the gymnastics facility, or

even a meltdown right there in the waiting room. Her anxiety was definitely up

a little, but she held it together so well, and I was so proud of her. And

there was no one there to share it with, who would have understood what a

triumph it was for her. In fact, when I told dd I was proud of her later, she

seemed surprised--so perhaps even she does not remember what a big deal this

would have been for her.

I hope this will offer a glimmer of hope to those of you who are currently

struggling with your son or daughter's OCD and a reminder to those of us whose

children are currently doing well that people do want to hear of successes.

Best wishes to all of you,

(mom w/OCD, 10.5 yo dd w/OCD)