Intuition has no place.... or does it?

Intuition has no place in psychology. yes this is what i tell my students the first week of school. I tell them that in order for psychology to be considered a science one must throw intuition out the window. I start my post this way because I truly believe that because of my interest in neuroscience, I was able to help my son. Sometimes I find it very difficult to leave my children each day during the school year, but, ironically my youngest son is reaping numerous benefits because of my job. My job forces me to stay current with the new ideas and trends in psychology, and yes the study of neuroscoence is fascinating. Years ago one believed all mental and physical problems were a result of ones upbringing or prenatal environment. Yet the 1990's proved otherwise, brain chemistry is where it is at and researchers are right. So when Alex was diagnosed with hypotonia I knew there was a problem in the brain. So I refused to wait 6 months to see the neurologist and booked one that was farther away but had an earlier appointment. Intuition told me not to wait.. and the recent Zimbardo video about the plasticty of the brain in early childhood development! So I went and was told the PT is working so keep it up. At Alex's 12 month visit I told the doctor how he does not eat. My doctor, whom I love and think is great in MOST cases! told me to take the bottle away and he will eat. For the first time in my career as a parent( yes it ia a career, one that you don't get paid for yet work your entire life at). I chose to defy his order. Something told me that Alex wanted to eat, but just could not. So I kept him on the bottle and formula all of this time. I know formula is pricey but I want him to get his nutrients! So fast forward to the neurology appointment today. The Neurologist told me that it was a good thing that I kept giving him the bottle, because his hypotonia affects his facial muscles as well. He is not eating because he can;t figure out how to coordinate his mouth movements due to his low tone! He has his feeding assessment in a couple weeks and hopefully the specialists can help us out here. I am sure they can. Let me tell you this, I would bet on Alex any day of the week. He has been progressing at an amazing speed. He has a will that you just can;t teach. It is funny, I thought that about him all along. He is the type of kid that looks at limits and thinks that is where the starting point is. I can see it in his eye. Intuition may have no place in the science books but it has every place in the parenting books. Moms and dads, go with your first instinct, it is usually the right one!