Picture from and credit to https://tesprints.com/
“Actions speak louder than words.” I have heard this phrase quite often, but it wasn’t until I became a mom to my son, who is nonverbal, did this phrase became more personal. Another phrase I recently heard and have adopted is, “Love needs no words”. Which I am titling this blog post.
Hello readers and welcome to this week’s blog post. We are nearing the end of February where we celebrated love and those three spoken words, “I love you!” However, having a child who is nonverbal who doesn’t say I love you but instead expresses it in his own way. This is when actions speak louder than words. When words don’t matter as much, you learn that love needs no words.
How does your son express love? I’m glad you asked! My son expresses love through touch. Whether giving a kiss, grabbing my hand, or hugging and cuddling. For kids on the spectrum hugging and cuddling is their way of connecting with others. Hugging and cuddling is also comforting for them. If my son is the one initiating the hug. If you were to come to him and give him a hug he would panic.
Now about that hug! His hugs are called deep pressure hugs or what I call bear hugs. You know the big guys you watch in the movies, the ones who are down to earth but aren’t aware of their own strength. That is my son! His Mommy and daddy are aware of his strength but someone who isn’t aware and not expecting a hug would feel as if you had the wind knocked out of you. Like you had really been attacked by a bear. This is also common with kids on the spectrum, who seek sensory stimulation. (say that ten times fast!)
This is just another trait about our son that is fun and sweet! But oh, the poor little girls! Within the past few months my son has given kisses to more little girls than I can handle! All I can do is just giggle and pray that their reaction is subtle. Thankfully most of the girls have played it off, although one little girl ran away crying!
We don’t quite understand boundaries yet, but we are working on it! This is also to be expected with any child. Through reinforcement we are teaching him to mind personal space and to give someone a hug, only if they want one. Also teaching him to blow kisses. All while reassuring him that he is so sweet and very kind!
Thank you for reading this week’s blog post! From me and TJ sending you love, air hugs, and blowing you kisses. Thank you for all the love from our readers. Love, Kruckenberg’s!