Splat Goes Life.

( started Aug 30... ) This morning I had a 1/2 hour meeting with the principal, IS, general ed teacher, and Special Ed director. It was mostly just to brainstorm how we could help Jack worth through his anger, to avoid the issues we've been seeing since about the second day of school. First off, I really appreciate the approach they seem to be taking with Jack. I don't yet get any underlying sense of frustration on the part of the staff. They seem genuine about their overall opinion of him as a kid. They enjoy his sense of humor, they appreciate his desire to be a part of school pride, they love that he's very knowledgeable about the school rules.. They also realize there are some bumps in the road, and they want to help him get over each one. One of the interesting things I've learned is that Jack is pretty focused when he does his work. If this is the case, then he really doesn't need the Concerta right now, which the Pediatrician prescribed for focus. The...

That's the name of a sheet that Jack's teacher passed around at Curriculum Night. We fill out our child's strengths, weaknesses, etc.. I always cringe when I show up for nights like these. Jack does have his strengths, but he has his weaknesses, too. Usually they're pretty much obvious by the second week of school. So I go in there wondering what the teacher must think of me. Stupid, but that's how I am. Before that, I got a phone call from the school's mental health specialist. She's basically a counselor, but works in the school district. In this case, I think she also works elsewhere, in a "private practice". I asked about introducing her to Jack pretty much right away, though the Special Ed. director felt we should give Jack a chance to adjust to the new school environment. I'm not getting the feeling he has.. but clearly he needs to make her acquaintance as soon as possible. So I've already given her the run down, and now I'm ...

The principal called me yesterday morning to let me know that Jack has been having difficulty since the second day of school. I knew about his 1 "excited outburst" per day, but yesterday was not very good. According to Jack, he got upset with the teacher for asking him to color an assignment- one that he should have known he was supposed to color. He could have not been paying attention, or he could have been out of the room at the time the instruction was given. (Apparently he needs to stay in the IS's room until 8:10 every morning, though he says he doesn't know why. I'm wondering if he is having trouble with the morning routine? Doing what he needs to do?). In his own mind, I'm sure he felt like he'd already done whatever he thought was required of him, and he wasn't willing to do any more. He got upset. I don't know the exact details of how things escalated, but he kicked the principal and the IS. They don't know Jack yet. Not really...

So, to sum up the first week back to regular school for Jack: Day 1, lost lunch on the bus. Nobody could find it. Not even the bus depot. Why? Because (as I realized the next day as I actually walked past the bus while taking Savannah to school), the driver had the bus at his house. Of course nobody's going to find it at school, or at the bus depot- I mean, come on! That would be silly! Day 2, bus driver got here early, then opted to make the kids wait in the little hall just inside the main entrance of school. Then didn't care for Jack's listening abilities, and got in his face. Now, every day that they arrive to school early, Jack gets to play on the computer in the Intervention Specialist's room. Day 3-5, bus driver got here early every single day. (Today, the start of the second week, he was actually here 10 minutes early. WTF?! Jack didn't even have time to brush his teeth!) I did get a summary of the week via the Intervention Specialist (which I should...

Sometimes I just want to smack the hell out of people. It's the second day of school, and the bus driver is starting to show his incompetence. The bus depot/garage knows my son is "special needs". They don't know what that means, because nobody asked me to clarify. Obviously he doesn't need adaptive equipment of any kind, but what he does need is a little extra explanation- some patience, for @$#!'s sake. The principal called to tell me that the bus got to school super early.. about 15 minutes before the doors even unlock to let the students in. Instead of leaving the kids on the bus and waiting, the driver took them just inside the front part of the school. Imagine a small waiting area, with a main door providing the first entrance, and 3 other doors all either leading to the office or to the front hallway of the school. There is nowhere to sit, so the driver made them stand up against the windows- he called it a wall, and I guess this was a bit confusing ...

About 9:30 or so yesterday morning, the Intervention Specialist called to let me know that Jack couldn't find his lunch box, and he was upset about it. She wanted to know if I should have him buy, or could I bring him a new lunch? Since I wasn't at home when she called, and I had just checked his account and knew he had enough for one lunch, I suggested he buy. (Is that wrong of me?) About a half hour or so later, the school secretary called, and said that nobody could find the lunch.. not even anyone at the bus depot, who had checked the bus and found nothing. Clearly this was not how Jack's first day needed to go. When he got home, guess what he was carrying? The lunch box. "Oh, it was under the seat". Wow, so I guess nobody checks under the seat these days? LOL What if a kid went missing and took a nap under the seat? I mean you hear about stories of little kids who never make it home from school.. Sigh. The report from school was pretty good, though. Desp...

Damn. I can't believe it, but my Jack is back to regular school. We made it official on the 14th- an IEP meeting adjusting the dates of his IEP (which was inactive when I pulled him out of the district), and showing that he now has a "change of placement" which requires transportation. So he gets to take the bus this year. (He's very excited about that!). We took a private tour of the school last Monday, with the principal, general ed. teacher, and the new Intervention Specialist. (I learned that the new "teacher", wasn't the teacher. Just the IS). I had to cringe because when we first got to the school for the tour, Jack was sort of grouchy- didn't say much, gave short answers, etc. When the principal assured us that he would be a bus rider- and I made sure he heard that - he changed his attitude real quick. He was still somewhat reserved, and held my arm much of the time, but he asked questions and generally was more communicative. Jack had ...