Raising Hein-Chris
  • Home
  • About
    • Hein-Chris
    • Sensory Processing Disorder
  • Blog
    • Blogger
  • Tips
  • Contact
    • Disclaimer & Disclosure

Hein-Chris

Hein-Chris was born early in January 2013 and quickly exhibited signs of being different - more sensitive, more unsettled, generally more unhappy - than his peers. I remember saying to my mother that Hein-Chris is never going to learn to smile, because it felt like he literally would have nothing to smile about. He would cry for hours on end, have a quick, unsettled sleep, and then continue crying. This was our routine for at least the first four months of his life.

Taking him out of the house was a huge production. I needed two fully packed bags of clothes and wet wipes. He would scream to the point that he’d vomit all over himself, multiple times, during every outing.  

However, I did not let this stop me from taking him to BabyGym, TopTots and Clamber Club. I instinctively knew that keeping him safely ensconced in a darkened room might provide short-term relief, but this in the long-run, would be detrimental to his development. I sensed I’d always have to push his boundaries, very gently. I typically spent the first 20 minutes of every class outside, calming Hein-Chris until he was settled enough to join the rest of his friends…every week for 2 years. I did pretty much the same at every class or event we attended: (1) arrived with him screaming; (2) spent a long time settling him; and (3) joined in at the last minute for a few seconds of fun.

It is only once Hein-Chris was diagnosed with SPD (specifically sensory defensiveness) after his second birthday that it clicked why he was behaving the way he was. And I was grateful that I never waivered in exposing him to the outside world. He’s been getting used to the big, big world since he’s been eight weeks old, and that’s certainly given him a solid start to learning how to cope with SPD.

After his diagnosis, Hein-Chris started attending weekly Occupational Therapy (OT) sessions, and joined a local play group (mornings only) at the same time. To this day he sees his neurodevelopmental paediatrian (who diagnosed him) every 6 months, and benefits from all the inputs him and I receive from his team of experts. 

Today Hein-Chris lives happily with his 2 younger siblings, Ruben (born in 2014) and Ben-Louie (born in 2016), and his doting parents in Ballito, South Africa. He is able to attend a mainstream school and is considered a polite, well-adjusted pre-schooler. He still loves his weekly OT sessions, sees an educational kinesiologist weekly too, and loves attending weekly LEGO Club, which is a group social skills training programme facilitated by two clinical psychologists.

Hein-Chris has journeyed a world away from his infant self. He has worked very hard, every day, every week to be able to engage with a world that is filled with sight, sound, smell, touch, taste and movement. He is a warrior against SPD, and my role is to provide him with whatsoever reinforcement he needs.  
Copyright 2021 - Raising Hein-Chris
Website design and hosting by
Indigo Innovation

​Selected photos courtesy of Taryn van Rensburg Photography (Copyright applies) 
Selected photos courtesy of Karen Mackridge Photography (Copyright applies)
Selected photos courtesy of Liefje Lena Photography and Art (Copyright applies) 
Stock images courtesy of Pixabay
  • Home
  • About
    • Hein-Chris
    • Sensory Processing Disorder
  • Blog
    • Blogger
  • Tips
  • Contact
    • Disclaimer & Disclosure