Back To School
I’d like to start off by thanking my new readers. Yesterday’s post must’ve hit a huge nerve. I didn’t get so many comments, but I got tons of readers. A lot more than normal. Thank you! And welcome. I wish I could take credit for the beautifully written post. Phoebe, of Herding Cats, was the author of this beautiful post. So please, thank her! If you’re new here, stay for awhile, poke around, and learn about my family, and my daughter Emma, who has special needs.
Emma went back to school on Tuesday. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t totally looking forward to January 3rd. This Christmas break was rough for us. I was a little apprehensive about how Tuesday morning would go, getting her back into the routine. I had every right to be apprehensive. She was NOT ready for school. NOT ready to get up early. NOT ready to immediately get dressed, let along immediately do anything. When she gets in these fits of rage, she honestly looks like she’s possessed. And I really do not say that lightly. It’s scary. It’s also exhausting physically and mentally. On Tuesday we had to physically place her in the school bus and buckle her up. The bus driver was so nice to call us once she got to school safely to let us know that she had calmed down by the time they turned the corner. But that tantrum she threw (actually, what’s a stronger word for tantrum?) had taken its toll on Brett and myself. The effects lasted much longer with us then they did with her.
This morning she had another blow-up. This time, I actually wondered if this kind of behavior warrants a trip to the psychiatric unit at the hospital. One of the signs they look for is physical harm to herself or others. Check. The girl is 70 pounds (thanks to a nasty side-effect of a summer time medication). Not a lightweight anymore. One thing I need to do is email her behavior analyst/school psychologist and give him the low down. Hopefully he has some quick words of advice to offer. Because this is tough stuff. I know that this is mostly about her getting back into the routine. But still. These tantrums are of the biggest proportions. I am actually dreading 6:30-7:40 every morning now.
I’ll keep you guys posted on what happens…hopefully this won’t last long. I’ll tell you what. It makes me very nervous for spring break, and more importantly, summer break.
In more exciting news, I got the little piece of paper in the mail that said my articles of incorporation for my Jumping Waves entity has been approved! And while I thought I was officially a non-profit organization, I just need to jump through the 501 c 3 hoop, and then I will be! But I’m one step closer! (That hoop, by the way, is 28 pages long. Eek!)
Here is my business card. I’m so proud of it!
Right now I am just trying to get the word out. I need as much exposure as possible, so I can generate interest. Interest will perhaps get me donations, or perhaps people who feel passionately about my cause and would like to invest in it. If you like what you’re reading, and my mission, I would love for you to pass along my blog. That would mean so much! Don’t forget, I also have my Etsy Store where all of the proceeds from the sales go directly to Jumping Waves. Easy as that. You can also support me by following me on Twitter and Facebook.
tantrum
meltdown
“its the end of the world as we know it”
its kind of a progression that no one else appreaciates (unless they’ve lived it)
I had a mom tell me what her son’s ‘cycling’ looked like, or maybe I was describing what my son was doing. And it sounded SO familiar. I guess until then, living IN it made be a bit oblivious to the cycle of it – because it IS exhausting (I definitely agree with you).
If you can identify the pattern in the cycle itself – or what the components are, and how often it is happening, and/or the extremity of the swing – all of those things will be excellent info for whoever is helping you.
Beyond that – sometimes having a good psychiatrist witness one is the best help of all.
One time my boys had an argument IN the psychiatrists office, during our regular visit, when I’d booked their appts back to back (mistake . . . and yet). The doc immediately asked me how often this behavior/interchange occurred. I told him 2-3x/week. And he said, “Okay then.”
That gave him the data he needed. Sometimes living it and being able to describe it (and the salient aspects of it) for another person is huge.
I saw a mom and her autistic son at the chiropractor yesterday. She asked him not to chew on his shirt. I’d forgotten that the 18 year old used to do that. And was so grateful for how far we’ve come (though we still have a long way to go).
I love how positive you are about the journey, and the capacity you have to accomplish forward motion and momentum. You make me have hope!
Marnee, I was thinking that if only the behavior analyst/psychologist came over one morning to witness what we go through, he would get his data! Of course I’d pray a pretty penny for him to come that early! What’s the data worth! Still, an email is needed. Thanks for your comment!