For mum Andrea Lunsford it’s the little things that can turn into a battle.
An uneven row of shampoo bottles in a shop, a book out of place or a small square of paper left behind when she removes the plastic wrapper from a container of chocolate pudding.
But right now its not a battle with her son with OCD she’s waging, but a battle with the critics after a video she shared on her Vlog “Fooley Living” copped a barrage of unnecessary criticism over her parenting skills. Andrea Lunsford, 39, says in fact all she is trying to do is help her three-year-old overcome his OCD.
Rafael, aged 3 has OCD. ( Via Fooly Living)
Lunsford filmed her son Rafael, who has been diagnosed with OCD and high functioning autism, while he struggled to cope with an irregularity in the wrapper of his chocolate pudding.
The American mum who lives in Israel, battles with Rafael as he tells her to open the container and she gently reminds him that it is already open.
At one stage she pokes her finger into the container to prove to the little boy that it really is open, and while he expresses his dismay at this he does lick the treat off his mum’s finger.
While he expresses his dismay at this he does lick the treat of his mum’s finger. ( Via Fooly Living)
Lunsford shared the video, she told Mamamia, to show an example of an issue that he has to deal with multiple times a day, every day.
“I thought it would be helpful for other parents to know they are not alone,” she said.
“Maybe a parent will see the video and realise why their child is having these behaviours and that it might be OCD. Maybe it will comfort them, knowing that there are ways to treat it and that it isn't hopeless.”
Top Comments
HI applaud Andrea for taking the time to research and understand her sons condition ( right there she sets herself apart from many parents, sadly). She is vested in her child's life, she is not taking the "easy way out" by just tearing off that bit of paper. She is in this for the long haul and she's committed to ensuring her son grows up to have the fullest life possible, one that hopefully is not bound by rituals, fears and repitive behaviours. To those who have never dealt with this in their own life I would say, take a seat. As for all the professionals weighing in, and those with OCD, as with ALL mental illnesses there are many approaches to many of these disorders, and not everyone in the medical community agrees on every approach, and that's fine, but let's at least acknowledge that there is more than one acceptable approach. Well done Mummy!!
I think she dealt with this really well