Where we live, school started about three and a half weeks ago. And Kyle's been doing...okay. He's had one especially bad day that resulted in a two hour screaming, crying, cursing meltdown in the middle of class, and two behavioral notices from PE, but other than that, it's just the usual "talking in class," "won't sit still," etc. run of the mill things that are part of raising a child with ADHD. So far, so good.
But I learned something last year that most, if not all, special needs families learn sooner or later: some days, he just can't handle school.
I don't mean he just doesn't want to go. This isn't a case of "Lazy Mom lets kid walk all over her, stay home from school, watch TV and eat ice cream all day."
Actually, I kind of wish that's all it was. At least that option involves ice cream.
No, this involved a 45 minute meltdown over...well, he woke up. And apparently, this was not a good thing. Meltdowns are rough on everyone involved, and when they start out the day in meltdown mode, the day does not get any better.
This leaves you with two choices: you can either send your child to school, keep your fingers crossed, throw some salt over your shoulder, say a few dozen prayers, and kiss a rabbit's foot...or, you can keep your child home and hope he's okay to attend tomorrow.
It's that second choice that I stick with when I just know he can't handle school. And it's days like today that make his IEP and my ability to communicate with his school so very, very important.
I was going to write this post about IEPs, parent rights, student rights, etc.
But I find that tonight, I am too exhausted from a day of wrangling meltdowning children, a teething baby, three sets of homework, a Cub Scout meeting, and straightening out a house that never seems to stay clean for longer than five minutes. So, tomorrow we'll talk IEPs. Tonight, we'll pray tomorrow he goes to school.
If you'll excuse me, I'm pretty sure the laundry I just folded unfolded itself. That, or one of my four year olds isn't as asleep as I thought he was.
But I learned something last year that most, if not all, special needs families learn sooner or later: some days, he just can't handle school.
I don't mean he just doesn't want to go. This isn't a case of "Lazy Mom lets kid walk all over her, stay home from school, watch TV and eat ice cream all day."
Actually, I kind of wish that's all it was. At least that option involves ice cream.
No, this involved a 45 minute meltdown over...well, he woke up. And apparently, this was not a good thing. Meltdowns are rough on everyone involved, and when they start out the day in meltdown mode, the day does not get any better.
This leaves you with two choices: you can either send your child to school, keep your fingers crossed, throw some salt over your shoulder, say a few dozen prayers, and kiss a rabbit's foot...or, you can keep your child home and hope he's okay to attend tomorrow.
It's that second choice that I stick with when I just know he can't handle school. And it's days like today that make his IEP and my ability to communicate with his school so very, very important.
I was going to write this post about IEPs, parent rights, student rights, etc.
But I find that tonight, I am too exhausted from a day of wrangling meltdowning children, a teething baby, three sets of homework, a Cub Scout meeting, and straightening out a house that never seems to stay clean for longer than five minutes. So, tomorrow we'll talk IEPs. Tonight, we'll pray tomorrow he goes to school.
If you'll excuse me, I'm pretty sure the laundry I just folded unfolded itself. That, or one of my four year olds isn't as asleep as I thought he was.
