Thank you, Yo Gabba Gabba

For the first four months of Elliot's life, we stretched her multiple times throughout the day, and I took her to CHLA for weekly splint adjustments. I'm not going to lie; it was all awful, all of the time. She cried. We cried. We were hurting our child on purpose every day, and we were continually being told that we had to do more of it. Sigh.

One day, though, an angel appeared. He was sang sweetly as he drifted through the sky, "Do you want to be my friend, my friend?" And, Elliot answered, "Yes, I will be your friend." Well, I'm assuming that's what she was thinking when she stopped dead in her tracks and stared at big red balloon on "Yo Gabba Gabba." Being the good mom that I was, I made sure that my baby didn't watch preschool shows, but magical things can happen when kids go to friends' houses and moms feel more like socializing than parenting. (Now, for the sake of honesty, I am going to admit that Elliot did watch "Law and Order: SVU" but, sadly, Benson and Stabler did not appeal to her in any way). 

When we got home from our friends' house, I immediately showed my husband the show. Elliot froze again. She was entranced. Later, we tested stretching her during the show, and it worked. She didn't cry at all. In fact, she sometimes looked like she was smiling. We had found it: the key to our sanity. If we could get her to always be happy while we were stretching her, maybe we could make some progress with those muscles. 

It's been 15 months now, and "Yo Gabba Gabba" still works like baby crack. The key for us is that she (mostly) only watches the show during stretching and splinting. We make exceptions on weekends, but, throughout the week, she doesn't watch tv throughout the day. I've learned it can never be whipped out during therapy sessions because she will turn into a zombie baby who refuses to participate. Honestly, though, I don't know how I would have done any of it without Brobee, Toodee, Foofa, Muno, and Plex. You are my rocks. I'm looking at you too, DJ Lance Rock. You six are an essential part of Elliot's team.

I recommend to any parent in a similar boat that you put aside you parental ideals and think of how you might be able to make required therapy a more enjoyable part of your child's life. Also, buy and iPhone. Best damn invention ever.