The week from....another reality

Last week was absolute chaos.  Monday started out with Easton being sent to the 8th grade classroom because of misbehavior.  It may be only me, but sending a kindergartener to the 8th grade classroom is not in anyway shape or form appropriate.  So I call the school to find out why this happened.  Their answer:  That is where we send the students who need to be disciplined.  OK what could he have done that resulted in that?  He was taking another kiddos snack, he was not compliant with what the teacher wanted, he did not follow the rules.  He was moving in the line.  I am not sure what would happen if something really terrible happened, but I can assure you that this type of behavior is very characterist of children with Asperger's Syndrome.

So Tuesday, I call the SLP that is the case manager for his IEP and tell her my concerns.  She is very sympathetic, but still stands behind where they sent him.  I told her that I didn't think it was appropriate, and suggested that he would do better if he had someone in class with him to help re-direct him when his behavior seems out of control.  She didn't want to do that because she wanted him to be able to function without support.  OK fine, but what is going to happen, when his behavior becomes an issue again.  When I dropped Easton off at school on Tuesday, I told his teacher that he didn't get a homework sheet sent home with him on Monday.  Her response, "He should have told me so I could give him a new one."  I left again feeling very frustrated.  I don't know how many time I have told them he will not turn it in.  You need to get it out of his bag for him.  He doesn't understand the whole concept of why he has to do the homework, and then why he would need to turn it in.  It does not make sense to him.  He is like that in swim lessons.  He thinks the purpose is to have fun and play in the water.  He has completed Level 1, four times in the past year because he doesn't understand why he needs to show that he can move through the water in a specific way.  I can see the way he thinks "If i am having fun and I am not drowning or dying or at the bottom of the pool, who cares if I can't do a backstroke the way they want me to."  So he again looks defiant, when he really just doesn't care about what others want him to do.

Wednesday cam around and I was a mess.  My nerves were raw and I wasn't sure how I could handle another day of so called misbehavior.  And to top it off, Easton was getting to go home with his best friend Jasper.  I LOVE Jasper.  He just gets Easton.  I have watched them interact, and there is something magical about it.  I know that sounds kinda wierd, but he knows Easton.  It is like they can communicate without all the 'stuff'  He understands Easton's quirks and is able to be his friend no matter what.  Did I say I loved the kid.  So I go to Boise to pick Easton up at Jasper's house.  Hoping that he didn't wear out his welcome.  He was wonderful.  Played well with Jasper and his little brother.  To top it off, he had an absolutely perfect day, according to the teacher.  WOW!  What changed?  Still can't figure it out.

Thursday...not too bad, but I also went and helped in the classroom to see if that might help with his behavior.  He did well!  I was happy and he seemed content.  He didn't have many issues that day.  So I believe that we have this figured out.  Nope.  You would think that I would learn that just as I think I have it figured out, he changes.  OK I think, I will just adapt.  Try to figure out the next best way to motivate him.

Friday...complete meltdown.  He spent most of the class out of the classroom, somewhere else.  I can only imagine what is going thru his mind.  He can't figure out why he is the only kid in class that is getting sent out.  What am I doing that is so bad that they don't want me there.  And mom, I do not like stars anymore.  The teacher had been using stars to motivate him to have good behavior.  He gets 2 warnings, and if he doesn't stop whatever it is that he is doing, he gets a star taken away.  So now he doesn't like the stars, and could care less if they are taken away. 

Did I say I was glad it was Friday?  I don't ever remember as long as my kids have been in school, being glad that it was Friday, and that I didn't have to worry about what was going to happen at school.  We could all finally breath, long and slow.