On To The Next September 8, 2012

Jay got kicked out of his social skills group.

 

“We really wanted this to work, but he’s not ready.”

 

It was pick up time and I was in their play room, on my knees.  Jay was happily running around with the other kids who are in the group.  They were playing some sort of ball game.

 

“He does well when we’re in the big gym and we’re working on taking turns and stuff like that but when we’re in this room and we’re sitting in a circle and doing less sensory intense activities he struggles.”

I listen and nod.

Jay is on the other side of the room.  She calls to him and says “Jay, who’s this?”

“Mummy” he says and comes crashing into me and knocking me over.

 

“There’s another group that we can try.  It’s smaller and each child has to be accompanied by a parent.”

More nodding.

“It meets on Saturdays and hopefully after a while of being in that group, he can transition back to this group.  Would you be interested in that?”

 

I tell her that I am interested and we will see her this Saturday.

I tell Jay to say his goodbyes, which he does, and then we head towards the cubbys that hold the shoes.  As we approach the cubbys, Jay darts into another empty play room.  This one has a ball put and he dives in.  He completely immerses himself and I can’t see him at all.  I tell him to get out because it’s time to go.  I hear him laughing.  Then I see a head peeking out.  And then he’s gone again.

I try to grab his hand but he heads to the farthest corner of the pit and there’s no way I’m getting to him unless I jump in the pit also.

I wonder if other parents have had to do that before to retrieve their children and immediately I think “Of COURSE they have.”

I take my shoes off and put one foot in the ball pit much to Jay’s delight.  He thinks this is all hilarious.  I reach for him.  He’s a slippery little fellow though and manages to escape my grip and now he’s standing on top of the slide that’s next to the ball pit.  I get out and make my way to the end of the slide thinking that I’ll grab him as he slides down but instead he jumps back into the ball pit.

*Sigh*

It’s no wonder he got kicked out of his group.

But he’s so happy.

That makes me happy.

 

Last night as CC and I were talking about this, he said, “You remember when we were dying to just hear what his voice sounded like?”

I DO!

“Then we wondered how old he’d be when he used the potty?”

I DO!

“He’ll be OK.  I have faith in him.”

 

I really wish if this group had been a good fit for him.  In the couple of months that he’s been going there he has really enjoyed himself but if he’s not ready he’s not ready.  In the mean time, later today, he and I, together, will try something else and see how that goes.

Graduations and Evaluations and Vacations June 26, 2012

I’m in no mood to write today.  I have things to say, but my mind is having a hard time staying focused on it.  You see, we’re going on vacation.  A real vacation.  To the Caribbean.  All 4 of us.  It’ll be the 1st time in over 2 years that we’ve been able to swing it.  I’m really in need of a break and I am longing to see my family and I love spending time with my 3 guys doing fun stuff.  We all love getting away and my 2 little ones travel very well so I’m not (too) worried about the flight etc.  If anything does happen, I’ll be sure to blog about it so in terms of getting from point A to point B … no news from me is good news.

 

OK so, onto the stuff that I need to tell you.

Ace had his kindergarten graduation last Friday.  I was very nervous about how it would go.  His teachers had done a good job of worrying me and causing me to expect the worst.  As it turns out, he was an angel.  He behaved better than most of the other parents.  (That could be a post all on it’s own)  I mean really, what adult thinks it’s a good idea to talk through an entire graduation?  Or to send their child to stand in the middle of the aisle to take pictures just as other people’s kids are coming in?  Or standing up during the entire award part of the ceremony so that no-one else can see their kid?  … How about the teachers call conferences to discuss THAT behaviour?

But I digress …

My Acey, got award for outstanding achievement in Computer Science.  I didn’t know they were going to be giving out special awards so that was a nice surprise.  While I would’ve been shocked if he had gotten an award for “best listener”, I wasn’t too surprised that he got a “computer science” one.  He often tells me that computers is his favourite class.  (Followed closely by science)

 

I was so proud of him.

He walked in calmly and with his hands clasped in front of him … like he was supposed to.

He sat in the front row and didn’t talk … unlike the adults in attendance.

He faced the flag and put his hand over his heart and said the pledge of allegiance … like he has practiced doing.

He sang his songs and said his poem and collected his “diploma” and smiled at us … all perfectly.

All in all, no matter what may or may not have went down during rehearsal, when the time came, he rose to the challenge.

 

The other bit of news I have is that Jay’s Social Skills Group evaluation went well.  He was a little bit more hyper than he tends to be at home but it was a very stimulating environment.  Lots of fun things to climb on and jump on and touch and throw and there was a ball pit and a few swings.

An OT person will do a couple of one-on-one sessions with him starting in July and then he will transition into a group of 4 of 5 kids by August.

The feeling I got from everyone there is that they very much love their jobs and love the children they work with.  They appear to focus on the possibilities and pushing the envelope and expanding the boundaries of the children rather than focusing on the deficits and limitations.  They won’t make his life comfortable and they will challenge him, but they will make the work as much fun as possible.  Just as CC and I do, they believe in his potential and will have high expectations of him.  I’m excited to see how it goes.

 

So that’s about it folks.

 

Last week I was in a funk and I literally prayed to God to “let something good happen“.  I think the prayer worked.

 

Ace’s graduation was awesome.  Jay is all set to start learning some social skills and making some friends.  Jay spontaneously told Ace to “be quiet” yesterday when Ace was being his usual chatter box self and today Jay told CC “thank you” (without prompting) in response to getting a snack.  The camera is charged, work is on hold, pets have been situated and we’re all packed and ready to begin our holiday.

 

See ya when we get back.

One love!

Social Skills Group – Maybe? June 20, 2012

This evening we’re taking Jay for an … evaluation? introduction? trial?  I don’t know what to call it.

We’re taking him to a place in our town to see if they think he’s a good fit for a “social skills” play group.  There are a few groups that meet there at different times.  Each group has 4 or 5 children.  They learn about playing games appropriately and about sharing and taking turns and about reading people’s body language and facial expressions and all sorts of other things that will help to improve his … well … social skills.

By all accounts it’s run by a really good and highly qualified OT specialist.  I have heard nothing but good things about them from other parents as well as from Jay’s current therapists and even his neurologist.

 

I hope she thinks he will make a good addition to the group.

 

That’s all I got for today.