difficult child and I played tennis today and then walked home together (only about 1/2 mile but to difficult child it felt like 10 miles). It was a really nice time. On the way home he noticed the scars on my hand and asked what they were from. I told him the truth that they were from him when he was younger and used to do so much raging. We walked a little way more and he looked at me and sincerely apologized. Then he asked if he is doing a lot better with his violence. I responded that he was doing a whole lot better and he got a big smile on his face. He also commented that he is glad he doesn't steal anymore. He asked if I remembered that he used to steal. I said I did but that he had come a long way since then.
It was kind of a nice moment especially seeing him proud of himself for not being violent (even though I thought he already knew about the scars but he does forget things easily so maybe it just didn't stay with him-husband, difficult child, and I were actually talking about them a few weeks ago because husband asked what the white scars on my hand were from).
The rest of the day he was back in difficult child form but it reminded me of the just how far he has come. I remember back when he was violent almost every single day. I also remember how close he came to going into an Residential Treatment Center (RTC) two years ago when he was hospitalized 3 times in 3 months. I can't say he is never violent but it is rare and not at all like it used to be. He is still a total difficult child and may always will be; he still drives us crazy, still it is nice to know that he is making some progress.
It was kind of a nice moment especially seeing him proud of himself for not being violent (even though I thought he already knew about the scars but he does forget things easily so maybe it just didn't stay with him-husband, difficult child, and I were actually talking about them a few weeks ago because husband asked what the white scars on my hand were from).
The rest of the day he was back in difficult child form but it reminded me of the just how far he has come. I remember back when he was violent almost every single day. I also remember how close he came to going into an Residential Treatment Center (RTC) two years ago when he was hospitalized 3 times in 3 months. I can't say he is never violent but it is rare and not at all like it used to be. He is still a total difficult child and may always will be; he still drives us crazy, still it is nice to know that he is making some progress.