If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last 4 years is the need to “keep it real”.
As much as I love the Anat Baniel Method, I just don’t feel that I would be providing Nathan with a substantial benefit by stopping everything and travelling to Northern California 3 times in 3 months. I feel that the best way we can help Nathan is by providing him a solid foundation with sustainable therapies.
All of my life I’ve been a All or Nothing type of person. And one of the most important lessons that I’ve been learning is to maintain balance, to keep in the middle way. Life is NOT all or nothing. Without balance, we have a chaotic internal environment. And with chaos there can not be peace and progress.
The last few days have been very difficult. I love ABM and do believe it can help Nathan a LOT. But should I throw away everything I’ve learned in the past year to find myself exactly where I was a few months ago? Or should I build on what I”ve learned and try and only engage in things that are balanced and sustainable?
My answer after much praying and meditating – remember sustainability. Slow and steady wins the race.
I really do believe that as much as it is our jobs as parents to help our kids fulfill their potential, our kids are here to help US too. And this journey with Nathan is teaching me what really matters in life, and the cost. Yes, maybe I could bulldoze through things and spend a lot of time up in Northern California so Nathan can receive intensive ABM – but what would be the cost? Our family life would suffer, our internal rhythm would suffer, our balance would suffer. Today, so long as my Nathan is healthy and happy, I believe that peace, balance and stability are as important as physical progress.
So my goal right now is to find a sustainable, balanced, realistc way of moving forward with ABM.
I have also decided to stick to the therapies that I know are effective: ABM, ABR, CME, HBOT, Laser reflex integration.
I already know without a shadow of a doubt that these therapies help Nathan. I’m not going to throw it all away now, especially when Nathan is doing well and making progress. I believe they all work together to help his brain mature and to maintain his body healthy.
Thank you so much to everyone who commented and gave me their support and opinions. I can’t tell you how much I value your input and support. I honestly feel so blessed to have this amazing community around us in our journey. Thank you thank you thank you!
I predicting you would come to this decision. ABM does a lot, but it doesn’t address every area. “Slow and Steady”–that’s like my motto.
You point it out: …”I believe that peace, balance and stability are as important as physical progress”…
It is the basic stone. The inner balance makes the physical progress possible. That is what I have learned with Oliver.
Generally, the kids are developing by observing and interest in environment/surroundings.
If Oliver is a happy child than he is free to be curious to know the world. I can only help him, support him, guide him, he has to do it himself.
I am so glad you came to this conclusion it is a huge breakthrough. I too have the urge to charge around looking for the miracle therapy but sometimes the miracle therapy is right there at home in the arms of mom. That is the place where they are happiest.
It sounds like this is a terrific decision for Nathan and your family. Like you said, the key is balance. I know that is something I struggle with — how to balance Jonah’s needs with that of his brother, sister, and of our whole family. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed that it’s not just a matter of making ONE decision — it’s a continuous balancing act. Thanks again for sharing your journey with us. You always give me something to think about!
Tara
Marce,acabo de leer los post de la experiencia de ABM,al parecer es una terapia muy completa e interesante,solo sé que tu duda de dejar todo y seguir solamente con esto fué por un instante!! ya que como bién tú dices hay que “vivir la realidad” y si tienes el don de equilibrio…mucho mejor,como ya todos sabemos Nathan es un niño muy feliz y muy amado que es lo fundamental en esta vida,pero mientras mas estimulos tenga será mejor,creo que la terapia única y real no existe,si puedes combinar varias quizas sea el complemento perfecto,el conjunto de cosas aveces ayuda mas que solo una!!
Un abrazo enorme.
I love reading your blog and your experience at the ABM Center very much mirrored ours. I fully believe that ABM works but the thought of quitting ALL other therapies made me green. I spent many nights in emotional agony trying to figure out what I was going to do. My conclusion was the same as yours. I feel like you took your thoughts right out of my heart! We are going to AZ in 2 days and are going to work with a practitioner there before we visit a friend and I am so excited. You are a GREAT mommy and am so thankful you allow us all to follow your journey!
Tons of hugs and prayers
Pam and Makenzie
http://www.makenziesmiracle.org
I often check your site and have traded notes with you on some of the chat groups. We share a similar approach to trying alternative therapies. We too have been to see Anat and had a very similar experience – distracted, short sessions, sparks of brilliance. In the end, we’ve opted to work with our local Feldenkrais/ABM practitioner. She’s got a very loving, gentle approach, we don’t disrupt our entire lives and we can do it in a much more sustainable way. There are trade-offs with every decision and therapy – as parents, we have to chose the route that works best for our entire family.
The only approach that I will ever follow exclusively is the one that can show me a proven track record of CURING children like ours. I have yet to find that one so we dabble and try many things.
Stay the course – you’ve got amazing energy!