This is one panel of Sophie's closet. For some reason, she likes to stand in front of it, gaze at it and then tip toward it and hit her forehead. Over and over again. Sometimes she knocks it in, and it comes off the runner, and we hear a godawful bang. Those of you who have older children with seizures know what the sound of a bang does to your body and psyche. Those of you who have PTSD from fighting in wars or spending a lot of time in NICUs or PICUs do, too.
Anyhoo.
A really wonderful man named Elvis and another really wonderful man named Nelson took those doors down.
They cut and sanded and worked for nearly two days to create two sliding doors. I bought some fabric online, and Elvis and Nelson bought some mattress pads and attached them to the doors. Then they basically upholstered the doors and put them on new and sturdier runners. This is what it looks like now:
Sophie stood in front of the doors and gazed at them, silently. Then she tipped over and bopped her head on them. I can't tell you what peace of mind this is going to bring us -- and it took over ten years!
Ah - the little things that really aren't little at all. Any time you want to send Elvis and Nelson my way, I have a List.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow...That's such a good idea. And what an interesting behaviour that is from Sophie.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea Elizabeth! I'm glad Sophie has a softer place to tip into.
ReplyDeleteYes, what a fabulous idea! Peace for you and Sophie!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea - and a pretty color too.
ReplyDeleteBetter late than never, huh?
And look at you, you said "anyhoo"! :)
And I, I noticed the " Anyhoo" as well.
ReplyDeleteHappy for your peace of mind and happy for Sophie's beautiful and precious head.
That's great! They're visually appealing, too.
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful doors that appear so visually calming. I admire your ingenious creativity, Elizabeth. Just amazing what a mother’s love for her child can inspire.
ReplyDeleteEverything's BLUE!
ReplyDeleteThat's terrific. I see many such developments like that in my future. I need to learn how to work with tools and fast. Otherwise I will have some major issues on my hands.
Maybe I should just throw some things out there and ask for ideas. This is a terrific one.
The PTSD is a very good reference, people don't realize what triggers shit like that. Mine is getting triggered all the time now from loud bangs and violent behavior and it can really bring a cloud over a household. But interesting that we don't talk much about the PTSD in a Disability House. Wonder why that is? Food for thought.
They look beautiful and soft.
ReplyDeleteKatie never used to bang her head but she has discovered that it bothers people so she now utilizes the head banging on a regular basis. She now has a permanent bruise in the middle of her forehead. It's her birthday today and I am sad once again.
isn't it interesting how things can suddenly seem perfectly obvious and yet they didn't a moment before? those doors are awesome. i get the deep peace you feel at providing for your child something she needed. beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAnyhoo... I noticed it too.
ReplyDeleteLove the colour!
Just to clarify -- my dislike of the term "anyhoo" warrants its usage after describing the type of events above -- namely, seizures that happen daily and that have become so much a part of our everyday life that it's surreal.
ReplyDeleteAnywho.
And I wish the color had come out better here, but Sophie's room is lavender and yellow -- those doors look a bit blue, don't they? They are a deep lavender in real life.
Anywho.
How wonderful. And it looks amazing. Lavender. Such a soothing color.
ReplyDeleteYay! It's great!
ReplyDeleteGod bless Elvis and Nelson and sweet Sophie. Pure mama ingenuity. Good job.
ReplyDeleteI love these closet doors( I dsilike the ones you had on before which are inherent in most builders psyches.. and who am i kidding, definitely cheaper then the beautiful ones you installed) These and the half door you have as an entry to her room (that Henry jumped over in a previous post)are visible signs of love. (to me anyway)
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! And I love that they are purple.
ReplyDeletelovely, lovely, lovely
ReplyDeletethis is WONDERFUL!!! i'm so glad you have this one little thing to help sophie, and you. i wish it could be a million things. i've been a terrible blogger these days... life getting in the way in so many ways. but i think of you often...
ReplyDeleteOh the power of love (and lavender!). What a difference "before" and "after."
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful, practical, happy solution. I love those doors!
ReplyDeleteWe have a saying about how big (as big as the sea) is the distance between saying what should be done, and actually getting it done: sometimes it takes over ten year to bridge it!
ReplyDelete