Zealand’s Story
“I am Lanae Mitchell, and I am the mother of 2 children, ages 10 and 14. When my oldest, Zealand, was 5 he was diagnosed with autism, anxiety, and receptive language disorder, but I wasn’t surprised. I knew there was something different about Zee when he was just 6 months old. One of the hardest parts about Zealand’s diagnosis was feeling like we were isolated, that most other people didn’t understand our situation. Battling sensory issues and anxiety made it extremely difficult to be in public spaces, to be in any kind of group.
Zee has always done better, socially, with kids who are younger than he is. He is awkward with his peers. In fact, social interactions have been the most difficult part of raising my boy. We were working with a neurodiversity coach who recommended Note-Able Music Therapy Services and thought it would be beneficial. Zee loves to create music and often mimics songs that he hears. He has always been very particular about music. He has precise rhythm and as a preschooler he let me know that I didn’t need to sing to him because I didn’t sound perfect in my pitch.
When Zee began going to Nate’s Electronic Music class, he fell right in with the group, even though he is one of the youngest in the class. They are all like-minded young men who love creating music. In Electronic Music class he has the opportunity to practice being in a group, being interdependent. The other day he told me he put down the guitar riff of a popular song and everyone in class was able to add onto it. This melts my heart! In school, fitting into a group- even if the teacher has assigned the members to work together, has challenges. He frequently hangs back and doesn’t contribute to the ability he is able, partly because he is afraid he will do it wrong. Music speaks to him and he is able to share that strength with confidence, this ability to communicate and have confidence is a great gateway for him to feel comfortable sharing who he is and what he has to offer.
It is important that Zee has other people in his life. I can’t be everything he needs. He needs other people to care about him and give him feedback. My son has many strengths. He loves to perform for an audience and has never been shy. But his musicality is like a superpower. If he hears a song that he likes, he will sometimes spend a few days breaking it down on the piano or other instrument, only to recreate it, record it in layers, changing the words perhaps. And it is worth the weekly drive from Carson City to Reno to help him develop those skills in a social setting where he can truly thrive. Zee doesn’t know what he wants to be when he grows up. I picture him doing graphic design or programming, based on what he likes and is good at, right now. He loves to be the center of attention, he could be on the radio, an actor or sports announcer. I would like to see him continue to create more of his own content. I see so much untapped potential and intelligence. Zee knows that he is different. In most situations I see him trying to mask his own identity.
At Note-Able Music Therapy Services, he fits in. He’s just another one of the guys creating music. He is building his technical skills AND building his social skills and confidence. To all the families out there who know their version of a Zealand, I hope you reach out to Note-Able Music Therapy Services. I only wish I had found NMTS sooner.