Tuesday, July 03, 2007

You Won't Believe This

You won't believe this. I couldn't believe my eyes.

First Sweet M held and cuddled an Applehead Chihuahua pup and then she played fetch with an enormous Chesapeake Bay retriever . . . . this from the child who was so terrified of dogs less than two years ago that we used to have to cross the street in our New York neighborhood when anyone was walking a dog.

As some kids were roasting marshmallows over a bonfire, Sweet M was tossing a stick into the bay and coaxing the enormous retriever . . . Through the darkness you could hear her . . . "Come-on boy, you can do it, go go, get it boy."

Ohmygod. For the parents of most nine-year-olds this would probably not be a noteworthy event, but for us, this was groundbreaking . . .

The occasion was a family reunion — a reunion of about half of the thirty-or-so cousins on my extensive extended paternal side of the family tree — held at the lovely home of one of my cousins on the Maryland shore. The great irony is that in the group photo from the event the child who had never touched a dog before is pictured as though cuddling the Chihuahua was commonplace for her.

I am stunned. Is this a by-product of Brain Engineering? Or is she just growing up? I'm inclined to think it's a Brain Engineering effect. Wow.

7 comments:

kristina said...

A big bow-wow to M! Charlie's been fascinated by the dog next door----it's behind a window.

Anonymous said...

Sort of interesting, isn't it? The fear is turning into interest . . . I'm just stunned by this change . . .

Maddy said...

We have been toying with the idea of a dog for several years now. The boys both loathe / terrified / cross the street etc as you say when a dog is around but there is so much anecdotal evidence about the relationships that can sometimes be formed between a dog and an autistic child that we're still dithering. I really hope that this leads to great things for you.
Cheers

Frogs' mom said...

How wonderful! - One less fear, one less anxiety to plague Sweet M. Diva has always been terrified of dogs. She is "growing" out of it not so much by loosing her fear, but by being better able to manage it and having a better idea what the dog might do. Sweet M's transition is so dramatic and comprehensive - I too would suspect the Brain Engineering is playing a big part. She must also be a dog person at heart :0)

Anonymous said...

So awesome to hear about more and more changes! You know I am a believer in BE! Sweet M is making some incredible changes and I am so happy for the whole family!

Mom to Mr. Handsome said...

That is amazing. She was terrified of dogs! I wonder what was it that made her change her mind? What ever it was, it happened! Hooray for Sweet M!


Kristin

Anonymous said...

so wonderful! go sweet M!!!!!

the fear turning to interest reminds me a tiny bit of fluffy's recent interest in kids at the playground where not long ago, it was masked under too much fear.

i missed this when you originally posted and i'm so glad i found it now!