Wow - here we are in October and I have not blogged!!!
Only a few more days until the school holidays are over. I have heaps of plans for blogs but would love feedback ie questions and suggestions for the blog.
As for our lives - lots has been going on, apart from the kids driving me nuts over the holidays!!!!
Our renovations are completed and the painting has started. We have plans for completion by mid month so we can resettle back at home. My mother who has graciously allowed our short stay turn into 3 months, has begun to also make plans - for our absence!!! lol
Little man has been so so. I think his behavior has improved, but I am sure once school starts back it will become difficult again. This term at Kindy a lot will be going on. Autism Qld is visiting to assess and assist the school, our private OT is also meeting with staff and his prep teacher next year to discuss transition to prep, which scare the hell out of me!!! We also have the new member of Connors support team catching up with the school. So could be interesting times...
Why does the transition scare me?? So many reasons. so let me start at the top....
Little man "roams" as we put it. The professionals call it "Truancy". Basically he gets it in his head that he wants to be somewhere else - and makes it happen. It's not a malicious thing (ie running away), he just needs to be gone. He will up and leave in a second. While your in the bath, toilet or changing bubs nappy. And because he happily plays quietly, you don't realise he has gone. We have put double dead bolts on our exterior doors, nailed his windows shut and chained and padlocked the gate - but still he goes. He finds a way. We have found him up to several km away - on his way to "somewhere", and he has scared us quite a few times. Due to all the door knocks over the past 3 years in our neighbourhood, most neighbours will spot him and bring him home. We even have the local police informed so if he is spotted he can quickly be identified. I have even been considering buying him a medi-alert bracelet so he can be identified quickly.
It is also super scary when he roams because ASD kids are attracted to water!!!! He can swim. Something we have done with all our kids, but still as every parent knows, no water is 100% safe around little ones. I am very thankful when we drove to a local watering hole recently I asked him if he wanted a swim - his reply "but mum it's dirty!". I hope he remembers that - no swimming in dirty water!! Earlier this year over a dozen children with ASD drowned in America. So very sad.
So - number one fear of Prep - no childproof area for him. At least he will be in uniform so whomever finds him can take him back to school!! As long as they are the right kind of people.....
Bullying. Yep it's a fear for me. After my Dad passed away in April, he started have massive melts downs at Kindy. As you may have gathered from some of my posts his meltdowns are not directed within - he explodes outwardly - thus hurting others. Because of all the "incident reports" I was signing at Kindy, I was concerned he might get labeled "a Bully". This was the main reason I wrote a letter to all the parents, so they would understand his behavior. (See Kindy Letter Blog) I do not excuse the pain he causes others. And we are working with professionals to curb it. But he does not have this diagnosis for no reason.
But even though he may hurt others, he is a very loving and gentle boy. One on one - an awesome helpful guy!! Funny and adorable. BUT he reflects everything around him. If he gets bullied, and because of his natural trusting nature and non-understanding of social behavior, it is very likely, someone will get hurt. It will be my son left standing!! Believe me!!! He is a strong kid for his size and age... and I KNOW who will be getting in trouble. To a degree, this is what is happening now, both at home and Kindy. His behavior is a reaction. Not a planned attack. I see it time and time again between his older sister and himself. But I only have 3 children to watch - not 23. So I can see and stop the problem - normally his sister - before she gets hurt. lol. Sounds crazy doesn't it.
So there you have it. my fears laid out. I am not even going to mention my concerns with the style of teaching, etc etc... until we get there ;)
