How has a week passed since I did my last post? I swear the clock is on "fast forward" right now.
Okay - back to the S story.
We were at the Thursday before March Break and he had his Graduation pictures taken that day. He had his new shirt and tie for the photos and was feeling pretty good about looking so grown up. I could tell he was excited.
Anyway, at the end of the school day, I get a phone call about him being agitated about something. He was so agitated that they didn't feel it was wise for him to take the bus home. I went and got him and when I got there, I had a brief chat with the EA.
She told me that she has noticed he seems to be quite anxious about the start of high school next year, and she was wondering if as the days go by, he is just starting to express this anxiety by acting out.
Hmm.
As S and I drove home that afternoon, I told him that I thought he should just not bother going to school the next day. The whole day is pretty much a write-off; both kids and teachers are already in 'holiday' mode, so what was the point? He told me that he wanted to go because it was 'twin day' and he and his friend had made plans to be twins with their outfits. I told him it was up to him, but if he did go, I would expect him to have a good day. Period.
That night we went to the Y and did our normal evening stuff, and about half an hour before bed, S asked me if my offer was still open. I told him yes. He decided that he would stay home.
Everything went pretty good through the March break. S was invited over to his friends for a sleep over one night - his friend also has Aspergers - and that was the afternoon Hubby and friend went out on the ATV. The A-man joined them in the afternoon, but I guess he didn't quite like the "getting stuck and pulling out using the whinch" part of Spring riding; he opted to stay home when they went out the second time that day.
Another day Hubby took the boys to the Sportsman show. It sounds like they all had a good time. On the weekend, S had his friend over to our house for a sleep over.
So far - touch wood - this week has been fine for S. I think he has resigned himself to the fact that I WILL be going on the end of year trip, but he really wants to be able to share a room with a friend. I'm not sure the 'friend' feels the same way anymore.
I have been in touch with the SERT about the transition meeting for S. She basically has to explain S's history to the SERT at the highschool, and make recommendations for him - such as his special transportation and his EA.
Oh, you bet I will be at that meeting. My records binder isn't quite up to snuff, but at least I have a few weeks to get it whipped back in to shape. If they want him to continue on a successful path, these items are required.
And the battles continue.
On a different note, the A-man is going to stay in town tonight so that he can go to the dance at the high school. Next weekend is his 16th birthday. I'm thinking of getting a few of his friends to come over on Saturday for dinner and a wee party. It'll sort of be a 'reverse' surprise party - one where he is surprised by the people that are arriving! Hopefully I can pull it off.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
spring is in the air
It's been a while since I have posted much about day-to-day life with the boys and school, so forgive me if I ramble or repeat myself.
But first, I just have to make a comment/observation about the weather. I love Spring. The mornings are still frosty, but the majority of the snow is now gone from the yard. I can see little snow drops blomming in the front garden, and my wee daffys are poking up quite a bit in the back.
The weather has been so nice the last couple of days, I didn't even need to wear a jacket! Well, I had on a fleece sweater, but at least a 'coat' wasn't required! Even the other night, when I left the gym after 7pm, I was comfortable without my coat on!
---
Okay, now back to reality.
S has not been having very good go of things at school for the last couple of weeks. Just after my last show, I took a couple of days off work. On the Thursday afternoon, I got a phone call from the Principal - I guess there had been an incident in the school yard during the lunch recess. I was asked to come and get S from school. I did.
The next day - Friday - when I got home from work I realized I'd left my cell at home all day. There was a message on the machine from the "Teacher in Charge" about another incident S had - again at lunch time. He hit another student in the privates during this particular broohaha.
Over the weekend, Hubby and I talked to S about the severity of this particular incident and quizzed him - again - about what he was feeling and why he was having so many bad days. He claimed that he really didn't know; he didn't feel like anything was wrong.
Last week wasn't bad at the start of the week. On Wednesday S informed me that he needed to wear a tie for his Graduation pictures, so when we went to get his haircut, we picked up both a shirt and tie for him. When we got to the store, S was very angry with me because I had told him I was going to do a Facebook review. (My one stipulation to them having FB was that I was permitted - on occassion - to review their 'stuff')
He was SO angry at me, though, that I wondered if something was going on. He kept telling me that FB was personal, and that he worked hard at the games he had, etc., etc.
I wasn't interested in the games he had - I wanted to have a look at the private messages. Something told me that one - or more - of his 'friends' weren't being so nice.
Anyway, we got his new shirt and tie; I'd had enough of the glaring looks and silent treatment during the haircut, so I had read the riot act prior to the shopping portion of our excurstion. He was actually pretty excited about picking out his own tie - and was even thrilled when he realized that it was a zip-up tie so he didn't have to worry about learning how to tie it!
Thursday morning dawned, and S was pretty excited about wearing his shirt and tie to school. He'd showered the night before, and even had me 'fix' his hair for him so that he would look good in the pictures. What a sweetheart.
That afternoon, around 3:15, I get a phone call. S was aggitated to the point that the school was hesitant about the ride home. I was asked to come and get him.
Oh...time to get ready for work. Will finish this post later!
But first, I just have to make a comment/observation about the weather. I love Spring. The mornings are still frosty, but the majority of the snow is now gone from the yard. I can see little snow drops blomming in the front garden, and my wee daffys are poking up quite a bit in the back.
The weather has been so nice the last couple of days, I didn't even need to wear a jacket! Well, I had on a fleece sweater, but at least a 'coat' wasn't required! Even the other night, when I left the gym after 7pm, I was comfortable without my coat on!
---
Okay, now back to reality.
S has not been having very good go of things at school for the last couple of weeks. Just after my last show, I took a couple of days off work. On the Thursday afternoon, I got a phone call from the Principal - I guess there had been an incident in the school yard during the lunch recess. I was asked to come and get S from school. I did.
The next day - Friday - when I got home from work I realized I'd left my cell at home all day. There was a message on the machine from the "Teacher in Charge" about another incident S had - again at lunch time. He hit another student in the privates during this particular broohaha.
Over the weekend, Hubby and I talked to S about the severity of this particular incident and quizzed him - again - about what he was feeling and why he was having so many bad days. He claimed that he really didn't know; he didn't feel like anything was wrong.
Last week wasn't bad at the start of the week. On Wednesday S informed me that he needed to wear a tie for his Graduation pictures, so when we went to get his haircut, we picked up both a shirt and tie for him. When we got to the store, S was very angry with me because I had told him I was going to do a Facebook review. (My one stipulation to them having FB was that I was permitted - on occassion - to review their 'stuff')
He was SO angry at me, though, that I wondered if something was going on. He kept telling me that FB was personal, and that he worked hard at the games he had, etc., etc.
I wasn't interested in the games he had - I wanted to have a look at the private messages. Something told me that one - or more - of his 'friends' weren't being so nice.
Anyway, we got his new shirt and tie; I'd had enough of the glaring looks and silent treatment during the haircut, so I had read the riot act prior to the shopping portion of our excurstion. He was actually pretty excited about picking out his own tie - and was even thrilled when he realized that it was a zip-up tie so he didn't have to worry about learning how to tie it!
Thursday morning dawned, and S was pretty excited about wearing his shirt and tie to school. He'd showered the night before, and even had me 'fix' his hair for him so that he would look good in the pictures. What a sweetheart.
That afternoon, around 3:15, I get a phone call. S was aggitated to the point that the school was hesitant about the ride home. I was asked to come and get him.
Oh...time to get ready for work. Will finish this post later!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
What day!
Today was an EXCELLENT day!
Got a chance to sleep in a wee bit; then took it easy having coffee and chatting it up with Hubby. Then Hubby took S off to the Y while I went and got some food for the week. (Will probably last until Wednesday since it's March Break...)
After I got home from shopping, Hubby and I were able to take in a few rays - yes! We were up to positive double digits!! - while enjoying a margarita.
Then, as I was cooking dinner on the barbeque, we saw a robin! Do you realize what this means? It means spring is coming!
My ultimate favourite of seasons!!
Then, to make things even better, I am going to take Friday off work and spend it with Cuz going to a garden show!
It's been a great day.
Got a chance to sleep in a wee bit; then took it easy having coffee and chatting it up with Hubby. Then Hubby took S off to the Y while I went and got some food for the week. (Will probably last until Wednesday since it's March Break...)
After I got home from shopping, Hubby and I were able to take in a few rays - yes! We were up to positive double digits!! - while enjoying a margarita.
Then, as I was cooking dinner on the barbeque, we saw a robin! Do you realize what this means? It means spring is coming!
My ultimate favourite of seasons!!
Then, to make things even better, I am going to take Friday off work and spend it with Cuz going to a garden show!
It's been a great day.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Do they even have a clue?
Was quite surprised by a telephone call I received from S’s teacher yesterday. She was calling to tell me the balance of the amount *I* will have to pay for the Grade 8 trip this year.
We’ve made two installments for S’s trip, but when the first installment was due, I had called and talked to the principal about what I should be sending in for my portion. At that time, she had indicated to me that things were going really well with S and that I may not even have to take the trip with the class. The second date for installment payment came, and again, I wasn’t advised of needing to send my portion of the payment. Then, this.
I wish to heaven that this school would figure out what it wants to do.
I called the Principal last night to discuss this further. “Remember the conversation we had back in the Fall where you indicated that you didn’t think I would have to go?” She did, but I guess she had never expressed this to the teacher and/or EA. It’s fine – I will go on the trip if that is what I need to do to ensure that S can go, but I told the Principal that I was NOT comfortable with having S share a room with me.
If they want him to act like all the other kids in Grade 8, then they need to treat him the same. All of the students will be sharing rooms with other students – not their mother. It will be bad enough for him to have me along on the bus, never mind not getting to have the fun and excitement of sharing a room with a friend. (Mind you, he only has one friend in Grade 8 and I don’t know that this boy would want to share a room with S. They haven’t been as close the past couple of years… But still, he needs to be given that option, not be told “You are sharing a suite with your mother not a friend.”)
Talk about making the poor kid even MORE different than he already is.
I will hold fast to this one – I will not be sharing a room with him. I don’t want to be difficult, but if they are going to insist I’m there, they are going to have me in the background with as little involvement as needed. I’ll be there for S, but that’s it. I will even pay extra if that is what I need to do. Heck, the school should chip in some $$ towards it.
They have a staff member that is supposed to be assigned to S and she apparently can’t do her job on a daily basis never mind while on a field trip. Now I have to take three days out of my job, my home, husband and other child, plus pay $300 (or maybe even more) to have the honour of embarrassing the bejeesus out of my son, to boot. Nope – not gonna do it. They will put him in with his peers. Period.
I’m sure there will be many more discussions about this in the coming months. I’m so looking forward to it. (Yeah, right…and pigs fly!)
Truth be told, I am not upset about the trip – I like Ottawa and would appreciate the chance to revisit this city, but I just don’t like the waffling and see-sawing that is going on here. And I will not cause S any undue stress over it. Hopefully they will see my point early in the game.
We’ve made two installments for S’s trip, but when the first installment was due, I had called and talked to the principal about what I should be sending in for my portion. At that time, she had indicated to me that things were going really well with S and that I may not even have to take the trip with the class. The second date for installment payment came, and again, I wasn’t advised of needing to send my portion of the payment. Then, this.
I wish to heaven that this school would figure out what it wants to do.
I called the Principal last night to discuss this further. “Remember the conversation we had back in the Fall where you indicated that you didn’t think I would have to go?” She did, but I guess she had never expressed this to the teacher and/or EA. It’s fine – I will go on the trip if that is what I need to do to ensure that S can go, but I told the Principal that I was NOT comfortable with having S share a room with me.
If they want him to act like all the other kids in Grade 8, then they need to treat him the same. All of the students will be sharing rooms with other students – not their mother. It will be bad enough for him to have me along on the bus, never mind not getting to have the fun and excitement of sharing a room with a friend. (Mind you, he only has one friend in Grade 8 and I don’t know that this boy would want to share a room with S. They haven’t been as close the past couple of years… But still, he needs to be given that option, not be told “You are sharing a suite with your mother not a friend.”)
Talk about making the poor kid even MORE different than he already is.
I will hold fast to this one – I will not be sharing a room with him. I don’t want to be difficult, but if they are going to insist I’m there, they are going to have me in the background with as little involvement as needed. I’ll be there for S, but that’s it. I will even pay extra if that is what I need to do. Heck, the school should chip in some $$ towards it.
They have a staff member that is supposed to be assigned to S and she apparently can’t do her job on a daily basis never mind while on a field trip. Now I have to take three days out of my job, my home, husband and other child, plus pay $300 (or maybe even more) to have the honour of embarrassing the bejeesus out of my son, to boot. Nope – not gonna do it. They will put him in with his peers. Period.
I’m sure there will be many more discussions about this in the coming months. I’m so looking forward to it. (Yeah, right…and pigs fly!)
Truth be told, I am not upset about the trip – I like Ottawa and would appreciate the chance to revisit this city, but I just don’t like the waffling and see-sawing that is going on here. And I will not cause S any undue stress over it. Hopefully they will see my point early in the game.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
This and that
We can tell that an 'exciting' time is about to arrive.
S had two separate incidents last week at school. I got a phone call to come and get him after the first one, and the second one had a 'teacher in charge' and she just left a message on my cell phone about the incident and told me that he was bringing home a "Think Sheet."
March Break starts next week.
Hubby and I have talked to S about this, and he claims that he isn't 'excited' but I'm not so sure. On Sunday he didn't take his medication - he 'forgot' - and holy smokes! I ended up sending him to his room until he could get a handle on his actions. He stayed in there for the better part of an hour.
Yesterday when S got home from school he told me that he isn't to be our of the EA's sight for the remainder of the week. Gee, that's what I thought was the deal before...
This is a direct result of the reaction S gave on Friday at lunch time. The EA wasn't at the school and he had a sub EA. I guess she didn't see the warning signs, or she was too far away from him or something.
I'll never understand this. It is very clearly documented that S doesn't do well during unstructured time, and therefore needs extra monitoring, yet he only seems to experience issues in the yard. Well, the first incident last week was in the yard, but was over his tape recorder. He didn't want to give it up when the EA saw that he had it.
That one I didn't have an issue with - he shouldn't have taken it outside because that isn't what it is to be used for.
I never got a follow up letter or phone call, so I am thinking the school recognizes that they were partly to blame for Friday's bruhaha.
The A-man continues to grow and thrive. He is enjoying his new semester - English, Math, Civics and Religion - and although he never seems to have homework, appears to be doing well in all of his classes. Sounds like his English teacher is quite the card, and he has the same Religion teacher as last year, so those two classes are bound to be fun for him.
The A-man will be turning 16 in a few short weeks. I asked him if he wanted to have a party, and he told me that if he had a surprise party he wouldn't mind, but he didn't want to actually PLAN a party with me.
Guess I will have to contact his unofficial girlfriend to get some ideas about who to invite since I don't really know the names of his new school friends. See, he only sees them during school hours and never contacts them outside of class. He doesn't even know some of their last names, where they live, or their telephone numbers.
He is so much like his father it scares me. ;o)
Oh - quick funny to share!
This morning as S was getting out of bed, the A-man stopped at the door, looked at S (in his underwear) looked down at himself (also in similar-coloured underwear) and said,
"Oh my. I am so embarrassed! Look, we are wearing the same outfit!" Then pranced away into his room to get dressed. Such a card that boy is.
I really need to push the sleep pants on a school morning. He normally has on a robe, but for some reason today didn't. What a kid.
S had two separate incidents last week at school. I got a phone call to come and get him after the first one, and the second one had a 'teacher in charge' and she just left a message on my cell phone about the incident and told me that he was bringing home a "Think Sheet."
March Break starts next week.
Hubby and I have talked to S about this, and he claims that he isn't 'excited' but I'm not so sure. On Sunday he didn't take his medication - he 'forgot' - and holy smokes! I ended up sending him to his room until he could get a handle on his actions. He stayed in there for the better part of an hour.
Yesterday when S got home from school he told me that he isn't to be our of the EA's sight for the remainder of the week. Gee, that's what I thought was the deal before...
This is a direct result of the reaction S gave on Friday at lunch time. The EA wasn't at the school and he had a sub EA. I guess she didn't see the warning signs, or she was too far away from him or something.
I'll never understand this. It is very clearly documented that S doesn't do well during unstructured time, and therefore needs extra monitoring, yet he only seems to experience issues in the yard. Well, the first incident last week was in the yard, but was over his tape recorder. He didn't want to give it up when the EA saw that he had it.
That one I didn't have an issue with - he shouldn't have taken it outside because that isn't what it is to be used for.
I never got a follow up letter or phone call, so I am thinking the school recognizes that they were partly to blame for Friday's bruhaha.
The A-man continues to grow and thrive. He is enjoying his new semester - English, Math, Civics and Religion - and although he never seems to have homework, appears to be doing well in all of his classes. Sounds like his English teacher is quite the card, and he has the same Religion teacher as last year, so those two classes are bound to be fun for him.
The A-man will be turning 16 in a few short weeks. I asked him if he wanted to have a party, and he told me that if he had a surprise party he wouldn't mind, but he didn't want to actually PLAN a party with me.
Guess I will have to contact his unofficial girlfriend to get some ideas about who to invite since I don't really know the names of his new school friends. See, he only sees them during school hours and never contacts them outside of class. He doesn't even know some of their last names, where they live, or their telephone numbers.
He is so much like his father it scares me. ;o)
Oh - quick funny to share!
This morning as S was getting out of bed, the A-man stopped at the door, looked at S (in his underwear) looked down at himself (also in similar-coloured underwear) and said,
"Oh my. I am so embarrassed! Look, we are wearing the same outfit!" Then pranced away into his room to get dressed. Such a card that boy is.
I really need to push the sleep pants on a school morning. He normally has on a robe, but for some reason today didn't. What a kid.
Monday, March 2, 2009
It's MARCH?!?
"Show Season" - the time of year where I work seven days a week for a 6 week period...
The time of year when I don't sleep because I wake up thinking, "Have I done this? I have to remember to do this"....
The time of year where I spend as much time sleeping in hotel beds as my own bed...
The time of year where I enter a windowless building when it is dark, and leave it when it is dark again...
"Show Season" is offically over for this girl! Yippee, yippee, yippee!!!
I had a very good time last night with my co-workers and with a crew from PEI. It's usually tradition that Sunday night is steak night, and last night was no disappointment. Turned out the table beside us was a crew from Ireland and Scotland that had also worked at the show. We ended up having a lot of fun with them, too.
I'm pretty sure the entire staff at that restaurant was happy to see us go...
Going to start packing up and making my way home. I'll put in a few hours at the office this afternoon, and then I have to take the A-man to a dentist appointment to figure out what needs to be done with his impacted wisdom teeth.
I might even take a day or two off this week.
The time of year when I don't sleep because I wake up thinking, "Have I done this? I have to remember to do this"....
The time of year where I spend as much time sleeping in hotel beds as my own bed...
The time of year where I enter a windowless building when it is dark, and leave it when it is dark again...
"Show Season" is offically over for this girl! Yippee, yippee, yippee!!!
I had a very good time last night with my co-workers and with a crew from PEI. It's usually tradition that Sunday night is steak night, and last night was no disappointment. Turned out the table beside us was a crew from Ireland and Scotland that had also worked at the show. We ended up having a lot of fun with them, too.
I'm pretty sure the entire staff at that restaurant was happy to see us go...
Going to start packing up and making my way home. I'll put in a few hours at the office this afternoon, and then I have to take the A-man to a dentist appointment to figure out what needs to be done with his impacted wisdom teeth.
I might even take a day or two off this week.
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