Well said TT. You couldn't be closer to the truth. This is relatively new to me as well. All of my life I've had this black cloud over my head...yet learned to deal/cope with it even though never fully understood its cause. Over the last few months I am learning a lot about our son who is diagnosed with SPD...however...in addition to learning about our son...I am learning a lot about my black cloud. In fact...it is not a black cloud at all...it is SPD. I look back and wish my folks knew and understood this disorder even though back then there was no such diagnosis.

As I learn more about my son and SPD...I learn more about myself and why I did/do things the way I do. So many aha moments...and for once...having SPD is a blessing because it allows me to see things through my son's eyes. It is comforting knowing he will always have somebody who "understands" him...unlike myself who went undiagnosed for the last 39 years. He will always have somebody to walk along beside him when things are difficult. Hopefully I can lead him in the right direction without too much of a struggle on his behalf.

In light of your son "scaling every barrier", not to be rude, I laughed out loud because my son did the same. In fact, when he was 2 we put a swinging door baby gate at the bottom of our stairs to prevent him from going up...and falling down. He was not happy about this new barrier. In fact, he learned how to put his foot through the slats on the gate and boost himself up and over so he could climb the stairs. So...I decided to equip our gate with window screen so he couldn't put his feet through the slats. So what does he do...He bites the top of the gate and begins ripping the screen and chewing the wood like a beaver. In response to this, I put foam pipe insulation around the parameter of the gate. That is what it took for him not to scale the gate to the stairs. Guests would always laugh when they saw the gate with window screen and pipe insulation around the parameter with big bite chunks in it. Try and look at the positive....one day your son will use that his "strong will" and perseverance to excel.

Don't lose site of your interests. Looking back on those years when my little guy was 2, I remember my wife and I running around in circles trying to accomodate my little guy. We put aside EVERYTHING including ourselves and individuality. It is always easy to look back and say...I should have done this or that....however, looking back, I wish both me and wifey accomodated one another more by forcing the other to have "me" time even if it is by sending them out of the house down to starbucks for a coffee and to read a magazine. Sometimes "everything" else in life needs to wait until you have your turn. The kids can feel your stress, tension, lack of vigor....which can sometimes be like blood in the water.
Welcome to the board. Again...sorry for my rambling post that goes in several different directions.
Frubsdad