Hi guys,

I am SOOOOO frustrated with my family (my Mom, Sister, Dad, Mother IN Law, SIs in Laws, etc.). No one understands anything about SPD. When I try to explain to them what is going on with my 10 month old son, they just want to act like it is not a big deal, he does not need to be in therapy for this... he just has eating issues, etc.

My Mom and I are actually not even speaking at this point because she believes that because I have my child on GFCF diet that he does not like any of the foods I give him. Mind you, we have a 10 month old. He cannot tolerate any texture or he throws up. So, I have purees of banana, mangos, berries, squash, sweet potatoes, regular home made mashed potatoes (with special butter of course), chicken and rice puree, beans, peas... I have SO MANY CHOICES for this child, but he just does not want to eat because of his sensory issues. He is failure to thrive. She had the audacity to say to me "I don't want to hear another complaint about his weight because of the diet you have him on." "He wants things like garlic bread, etc. and you cannot offer things like this to him,". Okay, first off -- he would VOMIT from the texture of bread. He CANNOT have gluten. He has done markedly better since he has been off gluten -- and I have tried the gluten free bread and he HATED it -- the texture was too much! The in laws don't even believe that he needs therapy so they have all but disowned me -- thinking that I am running my baby to doctors unnecessarily and that he is in therapy that he does not need! Now, who the heck would put a child in therapy twice a week for 2 different things when he does not need it? And what Mom would want to run her child to therapy 2 times per week if she did not have to?!?!?

I am sorry I am ranting here, but the people I would expect to get the most support from -- my Mom and in laws are the nay sayers that think I am somehow doing my son a disservice by getting him the therapy he so desperately needs! The in laws have stopped calling me and it is awkward at best, and my Mother has all the answers on why what I am doing with my son is wrong or not working.

I know that SPD is a newer diagnosis in the grand scheme of other disorders, etc., but has anyone run into this with their families? I keep getting all of this unsolicited advice -- "if you just do this with him, he will respond like this. We have had lots of babies" "He's got your number". He is 10 months old for pete's sake!!!

UGHHHH -- sorry to vent, I am just SO frustrated. I am constantly bouncing my son, brushing, joint compressions, swinging to help and I am getting all this lip that it is for nothing, not necessary, and that "he will just grow out of it".

Thanks for listening to my rant. I feel better getting it out and hoping that I am not alone on listening to family members that just don't seem to get it!