With all stories, there is a back story, to think that an article I wrote in 2011, out of frustration, in hope of sharing, reaching out and educating would come this far leaves me beyond words.
I did all I could to educate myself but ran into wall after wall. I did all I could to try to teach him how to use training to deal with his frustration as I have so learned myself. I failed, tried again, failed, tried again, failed, tried again and failed again.
Quitting is never an option.
To keep failing over and over again in it's on way IS quitting and I was not raised that way.
... but training has been my sport, my identity, my life. I know this and know it well. Want to talk about a kick in the nuts and a blow to your ego. While this may seem simple to most letting go and delegating this was one of the hardest things in my life. I then realized this wasn't about me - but him.
If you have followed the elitefts articles on Autism you've read, watched and seen the difference Sheena Leedham has made with him. Those who have trained at elitefts over the years have seen my struggle with him leading to the passing off of him to Sheena. They have seen them doing exercises in the parking lot, leave to go to the track, jump house and other places. They have seen the training sessions posted on the dry erase board. They have seen sequencing of movements put together over time leading to what many trainers would call the first in a progression (the sequence of events leading to a body weight squat, jump rope, etc).
Maybe they didn't see all of this... but I did.
Miles stones have been met with some of the biggest watching him squat. As someone who is very serious in the gym I never thought for one second that the strain, pain, blown out eyes, bloody noses, and red faces when squatting heavy would make a child think the squat was something to avoid. I mean, this is AWESOME! Right?. In this case it did just that, it created fear and a dislike of squatting for him.
It took time... but he now squats.
Sheena told me after the first time they went to the school track that he told stories of abuse, teasing, his quiet box, being an outcast, and how nobody liked him. Why he no longer goes there and never wants to go back. They dealt with it and have gone back to the track many times in one case being instructed by another student on how to jump the hurdle.
... it took years but his perception of the school has shifted.
He has HUGE issues with winning and losing. Not like we saw with Cam Newton but real issues that lead to major meltdowns that can last over an hour. A 5K "race", I had reservations but I also know the progress he's made. I think more so than him, Sheena wanted to know how this would go. This would be way out of his comfort zone; hundreds of people, lots of noise, add to that "a race". The goal was set, months of training (mental as much, if not more so, than physical).
... a goal was set, trained for and achieved.
While you can never say there is a direct correlation from one main factor to another I do feel there is. He attends a School for those on the Autism Spectrum. He has always been a very good student and over the past few years his behavioral issues have significantly decreased. I feel his training has had some part in this. How could it not?
There's one thing I have learned from the first article, "They are NOT Angry Birds". I wrote there are times when you need to step up, speak up and fight for them because no one else will. I would like to add now six years later there are times when you have to rely on the help of others because it does take a village to raise a child.
Even when he is your own.
Proud Father.
Here is the article detailing this most recent accomplishment
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