Before starting the local Brain Highways Pons program there is a mandatory meeting for all participating parents. I went to the meeting last night and learned that our group is their 63rd group.
I drove down with my neighbors who are doing the program with me with their son. We are so excited for our boys. We got there a little early because we are about an hour away. There was another lady there that we learned traveled all the way from Pahrump, NV to do the local program. Keep in mind the center is located in Encinitas, San Diego. I thought that was a testament to the reputation to the place. Although it also made me think of how far people will travel to get some mumbo jumbo treatment done for terminal diseases. But I need to keep negative thoughts away right?
When they finally let us in we signed in and sat down. I would say there were about 60 parents there. Nancy Sokol Green, the director/creator of Brain Highways, led the meeting. Almost immediately she mentioned how people might think we are crazy for doing this and how right now we are hoping the brain can change. Then she reassured us that by the end of the program we will know the brain can change. That did make me feel a little better. Although honestly I still have a little doubt in my mind. I guess this is why it took me over 2 years to finally enroll.
The meeting was there to explain how the classes will go. They explained the parent handbook, which we were supposed to look through before class and I didn't :(, which has a lot of information about how to deal with certain behaviors and has our homework instructions. The also mentioned how they changed the program a little to make parents complete the program as well as the kids. This I thought was wonderful. 2 years ago when I first found Brain Highways I thought to myself if this works for Nick I need to enroll in the Adult program. I watched the videos and so much of it related to me when I was a kid and even now as an adult. I get extremely stressed an overwhelmed by non-issues. So to be able to fix my brain along with Nick is a relief to be quite honest. Nancy explained that if the parent's brains aren't organized the whole program will appear extremely overwhelming and they will give up. Sounds like something I would do. Lol!
So in order for parents to begin the program they had all the parents creep on the floor. Creeping is one of the developmental exercises that they use to help organize the brain. They graded all the parents on their creeping abilities. Basically without going into too much detail your creeping ability shows how underdeveloped your pons (part of your brain that controls something important...yeah go to the website to see). My neighbors were at 50-55% with their creeping and I was at 40% whomp whomp big surprise there. Some parents got 5%. I don't think anyone got over 55%. Which makes me wonder if anyone will pass.
Well here is the kicker. While she did grade our creeping abilities she will not tell us how to creep at 100%. We have to figure that out on our own. Apparently it will come naturally and by week 5-6 we will improve by 30% or so.
We also did some other movements that are critical to brain development. And for the life of me I can't remember what she called them. These are movements that you see almost all babies do.
The night ended with the rules for the class. And also explaining what will happen if a child just screams and refuses to participate. Most of the parents in the class have children with Autism or ADHD although this program isn't catered to any one disorder. So these kids tend to have meltdowns and refuse to do simple activities. I don't think Nick will have a meltdown because he is really excited to do the program, but you never know.
I left the meeting feeling really good. I love Nancy because she is a no nonsense type person. I feel like we are going to have a lot of fun in the classes while we build our Pons.
