Good Grief, Charlie Brown!

I am sitting here sighing and shaking my head. Jack has been to the Clinic twice now, and instead of any chance for things improving, it seems to be the opposite.

The week of January 6th was pretty great at school. Jan 13-17th was worse. Since he only just started the Strattera on the 18th, we can't blame it on that.. though possibly on the removal of the Abilify. Only we have seen the behaviors before, so who can say either way. But he had some serious episodes.

next day, Jan 28...

This was the phone conversation I had with the principal last night: She believes that at first, Jack's physical aggression was part of his being frustrated and out of control. At this point, it seems more like a choice. He has been very aggressive towards the Intervention Specialist. This prompted the principal to sit him down and say "Enough!". He asked if she was done as in like what happened when he needed to be suspended, and she said yes. He has tried a little harder to do better since their conversation, but the way Jack is, this isn't going to keep him from acting out.. eventually. She wants to sit down with him and discuss the student handbook (which she knows he's read and has fun quoting), and the rules about "unauthorized touching". The possible consequences would be: emergency removal from the classroom, suspension from school, and then expulsion. If he were being physically aggressive with the IS, he would be removed from her room. After being calm, he would be sent to another IS's room. If the rest of the day was great, they'd essentially start over the following day with a fresh slate. If the next day the behavior returned, he would be suspended.

Jack has been choosing not to use any therapy supports to help him calm himself- he is going right to physical aggression. He also has absolutely zero interest in school. Yesterday he went on for about 45 minutes when he arrived about why they shouldn't be there. He's been crying here at home for the same reason, and making comments to me (when I tell him it's time to do his homework) like "I don't feel like it". Now this is nothing new. He has never enjoyed school. But he's getting out of bed later, dragging things out for longer, etc.

I had a talk with him last night, and ended up in tears. He also ended up in tears, because I think he couldn't help himself. But maybe as some sort of coping mechanism, he chose to point at me and laugh. Even my pointing out how cruel that was, wasn't enough to stop him.