Oh man I am so annoyed with Brodie and his potty mouth. He was absolutely disgusting this morning. Angus slept on the couch last night and woke up with a sore neck this morning. Brodie in his 'wisdom' pulled Angus off the couch to which Angus started screaming/crying due to the pain. This was at about 8 am so Mark and I were still asleep but obviously not for long. We called Brodie to come into the bedroom so that we could talk with him. He came but not until we had called a few times. Angus followed so that he could tell us his version of the events, not that he needed to because we had heard all of it.
Any way, the boys were just standing in the bedroom doorway when Mark was trying to explpain to Brodie that what he had done was wrong and that he could've done more damage to Angus's neck. Well you should've heard the foul mouthed response from Brodie even before Mark had finished talking to him. Brodie started calling Mark an f***ing idiot and a w**ker. It was absolutely disgusting. Then when Mark jumped out of bed Brodie ran into his bedroom barricading the door shut so that no one could get in. Brodie still continued with his potty mouth using more swear words telling Mark how much of a f***ing hero he was. I could not believe my ears. I was totally disgusted with his behaviour and his mouth. How dare a 14 year old child treat an adult with no respect like this.
It was bad enough last night that he was having a go at out neighbour telling her (and some young girls visiting her) that they were sl**s. What on earth does this child think he is achieving by speaking like this? He spoiled Angus's Birthday by being this way. Not only this but on Thursday night he carried on the same way with me when all I did was mention that he had forgotten to take his morning dose of medications and that it was not a good idea that he skipped them. He was horrid. Swearing at me and running out the front door and slamming it. The glass by the door shook like crazy I thought it was going to break.
I am almost at my wits end with him. In fact I AM at my wits end. I don't know what to do with him. I am so disgusted with his behaviour. He can't even use the excuse of his new medication for these changes as he hadn't even begun taking them when all of this potty mouth and anger started. I truthfully felt like sending him away to live somewhere else but there is nowhere to sed him. No one would have him anyway. Gosh I feel so lost right now.
Brodie did manage to apologise earlier but he thinks that it will make everything better and that it's all over and done with but it isn't. I am just waiting here on egg shells for the next explosion and I don't know if I will be able to cope with it when it happens.
Showing posts with label ADHD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ADHD. Show all posts
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
Paediatrician Review
Both boys had their reviews with the paediatrician on Wednesday after school.
Angus went first as he is the easier of the two boys to deal with (less complications that is). He was thrilled that he had grown a further two centimetres, he is now 146 cm tall (only 20 centimetres shorter than me) I have no idea how tall that is in feet and inches, we tried to convert it quickly when we were talking to my Dad on the phone. He only knows the old scale not metric when it comes to height. Anyway Angus is fine, doing extremely well in fact and doesn't need to go back for a review until the middle of next year.
Brodie was a trickier one to deal with. He has so many medical things that it's sometimes hard to know where to start. He too was thrilled to know that he has grown taller since his last visit in August. He is now 170 cm tall (about 5' 7") but he is also 5 kilos heavier too. Not good considering he has high blood pressure. He's now been given another lot of medication to take, Catapres (mydr.com), which should help his impulsiveness and also help lower his blood pressure. He started taking half a tablet last night. The bonus with this medication is that it might make him sleepy but since he is taking it at night that should be fine. It wont hurt him to go to bed early now and then.
He also needs to have a whole range of tests done. Should be interesting considering he needs to do 2 x 24 hour urine collections and some blood tests. He hates needles and becomes really stressed when he needs that done. The paediatrician also mentioned that he might need to have an ultrasound done of his renal artery or something like that. I can't remember it all but that's not surprising though as Brodie was bouncing off the walls while we were there and so impulsive and interrupting us quite a lot. I'm not sure when we can do this 24 hour urine collection .. hopefully on his day off when the teachers will be writing their school reports. The kids aren't required at school that day, that's on December 10th. We need to go back in early January for the results.
Angus went first as he is the easier of the two boys to deal with (less complications that is). He was thrilled that he had grown a further two centimetres, he is now 146 cm tall (only 20 centimetres shorter than me) I have no idea how tall that is in feet and inches, we tried to convert it quickly when we were talking to my Dad on the phone. He only knows the old scale not metric when it comes to height. Anyway Angus is fine, doing extremely well in fact and doesn't need to go back for a review until the middle of next year.
Brodie was a trickier one to deal with. He has so many medical things that it's sometimes hard to know where to start. He too was thrilled to know that he has grown taller since his last visit in August. He is now 170 cm tall (about 5' 7") but he is also 5 kilos heavier too. Not good considering he has high blood pressure. He's now been given another lot of medication to take, Catapres (mydr.com), which should help his impulsiveness and also help lower his blood pressure. He started taking half a tablet last night. The bonus with this medication is that it might make him sleepy but since he is taking it at night that should be fine. It wont hurt him to go to bed early now and then.
He also needs to have a whole range of tests done. Should be interesting considering he needs to do 2 x 24 hour urine collections and some blood tests. He hates needles and becomes really stressed when he needs that done. The paediatrician also mentioned that he might need to have an ultrasound done of his renal artery or something like that. I can't remember it all but that's not surprising though as Brodie was bouncing off the walls while we were there and so impulsive and interrupting us quite a lot. I'm not sure when we can do this 24 hour urine collection .. hopefully on his day off when the teachers will be writing their school reports. The kids aren't required at school that day, that's on December 10th. We need to go back in early January for the results.
Friday, September 14, 2007
The High School Meeting - To be EXPELLED or NOT, that is the question
First things first he wasn't expelled but it isn't totally off the cards either. *sigh of relief*
Now the panel consisted of Graham (the Assistant Principal), Peter (the Principal), Marg (School Council President) and John (School Counsellor/Guidance Officer). Mark was there with me (but boy were we out numbered!!)
Here's what happened in the meeting .. We began with talking about what we have done at home, school & church. We talked about what has been successful in the past, what is or isn't working now and what we could do in the future. This was all discussed before we even had Brodie join us in the latter stages of the meeting.
I told them that I thought that Brodie has reached a plateau in his learning/behaviour. Mark said to them that this plateau may not change for years or it could change at any moment there was now way we could truly know. I explained that changing the geography (meaning changing schools) would not rectify the problem. That all the issues would still be there and they weren't going to change in a hurry. I told them (and Brodie too) that with all the time and effort we have put in over the past 18 months was important, that it was not wasted and that it would be a shame to throw that all away if we had to leave the school. I told them that it would be harder on Brodie if we made him leave, that change is not a good thing for him (Aspie kids don't like change) and that it would be hard 'teaching' a new group of people how to deal successfully (or otherwise) with him.
Brodie, once he was asked to join us, was asked how he felt about his situation and bless him he was very honest with them and very polite as he spoke with the panel. I was proud of him as his behaviour showed the maturity that was required given the seriousness of the meeting. I even told him as much when we were asked to leave the room so that the panel could discuss his future.
Once we were called back in the panel even said that they were impressed with his honesty and told him so. They also said that it was one of the main reasons why they were giving Brodie another chance but there are of course conditions. I expected that there would be. The main one being that Brodie needs to work harder in his sessions with John (school counsellor) and that he is no longer to 'play' games or mess about while in these sessions. That he must try hard to follow teachers instructions and to try hard not to do the back answering/teasing/calling out. Do they expect miracles? (oops sorry for the sarcasm there)
Things will be reviewed some time next school term and we will have regular updates but if there is an outburst of violent behaviour, which can happen without warning, his situation will be reviewed immediately and they will then decide whether he stays or not. I am hoping that this wont happen again and I am doing my darnedest to make sure that Brodie follows the school rules as best he can.
I don't think I have left anything out. We did talk at length though & I have probably forgotten some important parts. He outcome was better than I expected. I did notice though at one stage, and Brodie noticed too, as Peter (Principal) was speaking to him about how he could stay there were tears in his eyes. Brodie said to the Peter that he saw them and Peter didn't deny that they weren't tears. He did talk to him about it but I cannot for the life of me remember what he said. I think I was in 'relief' mode by then. So I know at least that he cares what happens for him to have been affected like that.
The school (mainly the lady who works with kids like Brodie) along with myself are trying to get an integration aide for him (well, at least the funding to try and get an aide for him) we are in the middle of preparing the application for it and he is currently being tested in many different areas such as speech, hearing and eye sight. That was why I stressed to the panel that we have spent a lot of our time and effort on Brodie and his 'school career' and it would've truly been a shame to have wasted it all.
I am still keeping other schools in mind 'just in case' we need to at a future date. I need to keep our options open I guess but I don't want to contact them not yet any way.
Now the panel consisted of Graham (the Assistant Principal), Peter (the Principal), Marg (School Council President) and John (School Counsellor/Guidance Officer). Mark was there with me (but boy were we out numbered!!)
Here's what happened in the meeting .. We began with talking about what we have done at home, school & church. We talked about what has been successful in the past, what is or isn't working now and what we could do in the future. This was all discussed before we even had Brodie join us in the latter stages of the meeting.
I told them that I thought that Brodie has reached a plateau in his learning/behaviour. Mark said to them that this plateau may not change for years or it could change at any moment there was now way we could truly know. I explained that changing the geography (meaning changing schools) would not rectify the problem. That all the issues would still be there and they weren't going to change in a hurry. I told them (and Brodie too) that with all the time and effort we have put in over the past 18 months was important, that it was not wasted and that it would be a shame to throw that all away if we had to leave the school. I told them that it would be harder on Brodie if we made him leave, that change is not a good thing for him (Aspie kids don't like change) and that it would be hard 'teaching' a new group of people how to deal successfully (or otherwise) with him.
Brodie, once he was asked to join us, was asked how he felt about his situation and bless him he was very honest with them and very polite as he spoke with the panel. I was proud of him as his behaviour showed the maturity that was required given the seriousness of the meeting. I even told him as much when we were asked to leave the room so that the panel could discuss his future.
Once we were called back in the panel even said that they were impressed with his honesty and told him so. They also said that it was one of the main reasons why they were giving Brodie another chance but there are of course conditions. I expected that there would be. The main one being that Brodie needs to work harder in his sessions with John (school counsellor) and that he is no longer to 'play' games or mess about while in these sessions. That he must try hard to follow teachers instructions and to try hard not to do the back answering/teasing/calling out. Do they expect miracles? (oops sorry for the sarcasm there)
Things will be reviewed some time next school term and we will have regular updates but if there is an outburst of violent behaviour, which can happen without warning, his situation will be reviewed immediately and they will then decide whether he stays or not. I am hoping that this wont happen again and I am doing my darnedest to make sure that Brodie follows the school rules as best he can.
I don't think I have left anything out. We did talk at length though & I have probably forgotten some important parts. He outcome was better than I expected. I did notice though at one stage, and Brodie noticed too, as Peter (Principal) was speaking to him about how he could stay there were tears in his eyes. Brodie said to the Peter that he saw them and Peter didn't deny that they weren't tears. He did talk to him about it but I cannot for the life of me remember what he said. I think I was in 'relief' mode by then. So I know at least that he cares what happens for him to have been affected like that.
The school (mainly the lady who works with kids like Brodie) along with myself are trying to get an integration aide for him (well, at least the funding to try and get an aide for him) we are in the middle of preparing the application for it and he is currently being tested in many different areas such as speech, hearing and eye sight. That was why I stressed to the panel that we have spent a lot of our time and effort on Brodie and his 'school career' and it would've truly been a shame to have wasted it all.
I am still keeping other schools in mind 'just in case' we need to at a future date. I need to keep our options open I guess but I don't want to contact them not yet any way.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Our Meeting With The Bishop
He was running a little late but that isn't anything new because he is a very busy man.
It started off with a prayer which of course would be the usual thing huh.
You can tell he's done this sort of thing before because he went straight into getting us to talk about ourselves. How we became members. What ward we were in. How long we stayed before becoming inactive. How we met, etc. We had a few good laughs. He is such a nice Bishop. You can really trust him.
Then we went into the nitty gritty kind of stuff .. The stuff you kind of dread *sigh*
He really went into Bishop mode ...and spoke about the Word of Wisdom and the chastity stuff. I'm not allowed to have any pizza!! Well I can but that would be naughty. This is one thing I'm going to struggle with.
He also asked us how strong our testimony is. I was honest, at least I think I was. I said that I have one but I don't think it is very strong. And I explained about the invitations I have received to other churches over the years and how I have turned the invites down because if I was going to church it was my church or it was NO church!
He also asked about our living arrangements etc and what were our future plans. Mark's plans .. Was to go to temple and to be married there. Bishop said he was behind us 110% where that was concerned because he wants us to be happy. So he asked what Mark needs to do to be divorced. I was best able to explain that one because I've been there done that. It really is too easy to divorce, especially after you've been separated for at least a year. However things may have changed a little with the new laws that the federal government have brought in.
Where was I? .. Oh yes my plan as I said to the Bishop was to get Mark divorced and keep him for myself. I explained that I had waited for so long to snag him I wasn't letting go!
He suggested that we get stuck into getting him divorced and then to have a temporal marriage before we even think about going to temple.
Then it came to the temple ... He went through the questions that you are asked to see. I told him I wasn't ready. Mark said the same thing. The Bishop agreed which of course I knew he would.
He suggested that we get stuck into getting him divorced and then to have a temporal marriage before we even think about going to temple.
Then it came to the temple ... He went through the questions that you are asked to see. I told him I wasn't ready. Mark said the same thing. The Bishop agreed which of course I knew he would.
He gave us a few suggestions that would help us become temple ready.
We even went through our budget and he saw how tight it is for us. He said make sure your rent is paid and that you pay tithing and the rest if you run short of money we will be here to help you.
And we went through our budget with a fine tooth comb. He also wants us to make it more inclusive with things like medical (prescription expenses etc), car maintenance and I can't remember the rest. Mark knows what we need to add. Then Bishop would like a copy of the revised budget. That way he can help better.
We did discuss the fact that we don't want to have a continuous supply of help from the Church. That we would like help to set ourselves up as becoming more self-sufficient by growing our own vegetables etc. He said he will help with that also.
And we went through our budget with a fine tooth comb. He also wants us to make it more inclusive with things like medical (prescription expenses etc), car maintenance and I can't remember the rest. Mark knows what we need to add. Then Bishop would like a copy of the revised budget. That way he can help better.
We did discuss the fact that we don't want to have a continuous supply of help from the Church. That we would like help to set ourselves up as becoming more self-sufficient by growing our own vegetables etc. He said he will help with that also.
Oh and not to forget .. We spoke about the boys. The big fella mostly. He wanted to understand his medical conditions better. So we explained about the Aspergers, the ADHD and the epilepsy. To be honest I can't remember everything he said about the boys just that he has asked the others to be more tolerant of them because they are new to the ward.
Oh and he also suggested that we come and visit him again separately if we want to so that we can talk about the things that we need to confess basically. So that we have total repentance especially in preparation for going to temple. The Bishop also mentioned that there are classes we can go to before we get to temple so that we are better prepared etc.
I felt a bit bad when he asked me to do the closing prayer and I just couldn't. I'm not very good at them and I certainly don't like saying them out loud not even at home. I know that it is something that I have to work on. Especially since the boys are more willing to say prayers than I am .. the put me to shame.
This morning I was thinking about that blog entry I did when I felt so awful about being in Church and being such a hypocrite. I believe that my heart was just so full of sorrow that I was just begging to be asked for forgiveness. I think it was the beginning of being truly repentant. Now I just need the courage to talk with the Bishop about it.
I never realised just how much I wanted to go to temple. Even though I know I am no where near ready right now I believe that I can make it.
I felt a bit bad when he asked me to do the closing prayer and I just couldn't. I'm not very good at them and I certainly don't like saying them out loud not even at home. I know that it is something that I have to work on. Especially since the boys are more willing to say prayers than I am .. the put me to shame.
This morning I was thinking about that blog entry I did when I felt so awful about being in Church and being such a hypocrite. I believe that my heart was just so full of sorrow that I was just begging to be asked for forgiveness. I think it was the beginning of being truly repentant. Now I just need the courage to talk with the Bishop about it.
I never realised just how much I wanted to go to temple. Even though I know I am no where near ready right now I believe that I can make it.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
I'm being punished
Not again! I don't know what's going on with the big fella but I feel like I am being punished because of his behaviour. I now have the pleasure of his company until Monday morning when he is allowed back to school.
I no longer know what to do with him. We're bending over backwards to help him but he thinks that everyone is out to get him and that nothing he has done contributes to the trouble he gets himself into! This time he was suspended for sexual harassment & violence. I'm really not very happy about this but he swears he didn't say anything wrong, however he admits to the violence. He also said that his so called 'friends' were teasing him at the bus stop calling him names, saying he was gay and throwing acorns at him.
I explained to him that yes I can understand why he was angry but that he should've gone to tell one of the teachers as soon as he got to school rather than let the other kids get to him and stir him up some more.
I am at such a loss with him. I'm so frustrated, disappointed and hurt that I feel like I am being punished for something and I don't know why. Mark said I'm not its just that I am being tested. Well I don't like this test at all!!!
I'm still having a hard time wondering how he will cope with his academic work at school if he is spending so much of his valuable learning time home on suspension rather than at school learning. Where will this get him if he isn't learning what he needs to learn to survive out there in the real world??
The big fella was tested yesterday by the same lady who tested him the year he was diagnosed with ADHD & Aspergers Syndrome. She was the same lady who said to the Primary School Principal that he did NOT have Aspergers and therefore will not be able to get an integration aide at school. Now if this is the same lady that said he wont get an aide when he was back in Grade 4 what makes the school think she will say that he will get one now that he is in High School. What I don't get is that if the paediatrician said he has Aspergers where does she get off saying that he doesn't? Well this testing was done for the HS and they will receive a copy of the 'results' I guess you could call them and I will receive a copy as well. Not that I ever got a copy of the testing this lady did when he was in Grade 4. To be honest I don't even know what she was testing for but I did see her briefly yesterday when I picked up the big fella and she said that academically he is sound. Well der I already knew that .. its the behavioural side of things I am having problems dealing and coping with.
Gosh I sound so sarcastic at the moment. I know I probably shouldn't but right now I am at that who cares stage. I don't care what they think I just want the best for my son and I don't know if they are providing it for him. There is only so much I can do I am NOT a miracle worker!!!!
I no longer know what to do with him. We're bending over backwards to help him but he thinks that everyone is out to get him and that nothing he has done contributes to the trouble he gets himself into! This time he was suspended for sexual harassment & violence. I'm really not very happy about this but he swears he didn't say anything wrong, however he admits to the violence. He also said that his so called 'friends' were teasing him at the bus stop calling him names, saying he was gay and throwing acorns at him.
I explained to him that yes I can understand why he was angry but that he should've gone to tell one of the teachers as soon as he got to school rather than let the other kids get to him and stir him up some more.
I am at such a loss with him. I'm so frustrated, disappointed and hurt that I feel like I am being punished for something and I don't know why. Mark said I'm not its just that I am being tested. Well I don't like this test at all!!!
I'm still having a hard time wondering how he will cope with his academic work at school if he is spending so much of his valuable learning time home on suspension rather than at school learning. Where will this get him if he isn't learning what he needs to learn to survive out there in the real world??
The big fella was tested yesterday by the same lady who tested him the year he was diagnosed with ADHD & Aspergers Syndrome. She was the same lady who said to the Primary School Principal that he did NOT have Aspergers and therefore will not be able to get an integration aide at school. Now if this is the same lady that said he wont get an aide when he was back in Grade 4 what makes the school think she will say that he will get one now that he is in High School. What I don't get is that if the paediatrician said he has Aspergers where does she get off saying that he doesn't? Well this testing was done for the HS and they will receive a copy of the 'results' I guess you could call them and I will receive a copy as well. Not that I ever got a copy of the testing this lady did when he was in Grade 4. To be honest I don't even know what she was testing for but I did see her briefly yesterday when I picked up the big fella and she said that academically he is sound. Well der I already knew that .. its the behavioural side of things I am having problems dealing and coping with.
Gosh I sound so sarcastic at the moment. I know I probably shouldn't but right now I am at that who cares stage. I don't care what they think I just want the best for my son and I don't know if they are providing it for him. There is only so much I can do I am NOT a miracle worker!!!!
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
About that Meeting yesterday
Okay I feel a bit better this morning so I'll be able to complete that post I started last night ... ...
It seems that the High School is not willing to expel big fella at this moment in time. They wish to see how things go after we see the paediatrician on Friday. We'll probably need to adjust his meds again and that will take time for any change to be noticeable. I've let the school know that it may take weeks for us to find out how the changes go provided his doctor changes the big fella's dosage on Friday.
We've also suggested that the big fella be allowed to come back to school part-time once his suspension has been finished. Either Mark or I will pick him up at 1 PM everyday.
Apparently the kids at the school, well the Year 7's at any rate, were all saying that the big fella had been expelled, which of course hasn't happened (yet) the school thankfully put that rumour to rest. I guess the kids had to gossip about something didn't they!!
The school counsellor/guidance officer, who is independent from the HS, is making sure that they (the HS) wont do anything as far as making a decision as to whether this school is the right setting for him. At least not until we know it's not just the medication altering his behaviour. I must admit that things have progressively gotten worse once the big fella was on his full dosage of epilim. Everything started to fall apart after the first week back this term ... it was that weekend when he began to take the 200 mg tablets twice a day.
I know that medicating children is frown upon by some people. Mostly those who don't have to live with ADHD & Aspergers Syndrome. There are those that are thinking this is doing him more harm than good but they haven't seen what the big fella is like off meds and on them. There is such a huge difference in his behaviour when he isn't taking his dex. He is much worse than 'normal' with loads of baby-ish talk, his voice gets that baby-ish tone back, he doesn't think (even more so than usual), he is more impulsive and is more restless. When he taks his meds things seem a little calmer .. not as much as it used to be but they are better. So for me and my peace of mind the pros outweigh the cons .. well until now. I know his meds need reviewing. I know that the dosage at least for now is NOT right for him. It WILL take time for things to be worked out properly. We just have to hang in there and hope that it wont take too long .. ..
It seems that the High School is not willing to expel big fella at this moment in time. They wish to see how things go after we see the paediatrician on Friday. We'll probably need to adjust his meds again and that will take time for any change to be noticeable. I've let the school know that it may take weeks for us to find out how the changes go provided his doctor changes the big fella's dosage on Friday.
We've also suggested that the big fella be allowed to come back to school part-time once his suspension has been finished. Either Mark or I will pick him up at 1 PM everyday.
Apparently the kids at the school, well the Year 7's at any rate, were all saying that the big fella had been expelled, which of course hasn't happened (yet) the school thankfully put that rumour to rest. I guess the kids had to gossip about something didn't they!!
The school counsellor/guidance officer, who is independent from the HS, is making sure that they (the HS) wont do anything as far as making a decision as to whether this school is the right setting for him. At least not until we know it's not just the medication altering his behaviour. I must admit that things have progressively gotten worse once the big fella was on his full dosage of epilim. Everything started to fall apart after the first week back this term ... it was that weekend when he began to take the 200 mg tablets twice a day.
I know that medicating children is frown upon by some people. Mostly those who don't have to live with ADHD & Aspergers Syndrome. There are those that are thinking this is doing him more harm than good but they haven't seen what the big fella is like off meds and on them. There is such a huge difference in his behaviour when he isn't taking his dex. He is much worse than 'normal' with loads of baby-ish talk, his voice gets that baby-ish tone back, he doesn't think (even more so than usual), he is more impulsive and is more restless. When he taks his meds things seem a little calmer .. not as much as it used to be but they are better. So for me and my peace of mind the pros outweigh the cons .. well until now. I know his meds need reviewing. I know that the dosage at least for now is NOT right for him. It WILL take time for things to be worked out properly. We just have to hang in there and hope that it wont take too long .. ..
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Why can't I have NORMAL kids?!?!?!!
Why can't I have NORMAL children? What ever normal really is??!! Why are they special needs kids? Why can't they just fit into mainstream school without a problem. What have I don't wrong for things to be as bad as they are? There must've been something. Why can't the High School threat the big fella as a special needs kid and concentrate on a way to help him thrive rather than suspend him for his behaviour. Why can't they see that suspending him doesn't help him understand? He has no idea what's going on really!! Booting him out of school for 10 days this time will NOT teach him what he needs to learn to change his behaviour and for him to learn to take responsibility for his actions!!
I cannot believe that I have all these questions and yet there is NO real answer that can help me. I am at a total loss. I can't think much further than a day at a time at the moment. I feel like the High School has let me down. That they have not given the big fella a chance. That they have not helped him as much as they could before deciding to wash their hands of him. I was told on Monday afternoon that I should probably phone other High Schools in the area to see if they are prepared to take him. Today I found out from Ellie (whom we had an interview with today) that it is his current High Schools responsibility to do that if they no longer want him at their school. Even in the case of them expelling him (I hope that never happens) they need to find him another school especially because he is under 15 yrs old.
Being a special needs kid they should understand that he needs boundaries and extra support. That throwing him into a new school setting making him sink or swim is not the kind of environment he needs. For any 'normal' kid beginning High School is a scary thing. Just imagine how bad it is for a child with Aspergers Syndrome, ADHD & now epilepsy. If that doesn't make him a special needs kid I don't know what will! I still believe that the Education Department should allow him to have an integration aide. When I tried to get him one back when he was in grade 4 the Special Ed teacher who came to the school to assess him said he didn't even have Aspergers! Well hello!! I have news for you lady! I guess she spoke to him on a really good day!!
Right now all I feel like doing is crying. It's not right that I feel so helpless and unable to do a thing. It's just not fair! Why can't things be NORMAL! I just don't know what to do anymore. What have I dont wrong??
I cannot believe that I have all these questions and yet there is NO real answer that can help me. I am at a total loss. I can't think much further than a day at a time at the moment. I feel like the High School has let me down. That they have not given the big fella a chance. That they have not helped him as much as they could before deciding to wash their hands of him. I was told on Monday afternoon that I should probably phone other High Schools in the area to see if they are prepared to take him. Today I found out from Ellie (whom we had an interview with today) that it is his current High Schools responsibility to do that if they no longer want him at their school. Even in the case of them expelling him (I hope that never happens) they need to find him another school especially because he is under 15 yrs old.
Being a special needs kid they should understand that he needs boundaries and extra support. That throwing him into a new school setting making him sink or swim is not the kind of environment he needs. For any 'normal' kid beginning High School is a scary thing. Just imagine how bad it is for a child with Aspergers Syndrome, ADHD & now epilepsy. If that doesn't make him a special needs kid I don't know what will! I still believe that the Education Department should allow him to have an integration aide. When I tried to get him one back when he was in grade 4 the Special Ed teacher who came to the school to assess him said he didn't even have Aspergers! Well hello!! I have news for you lady! I guess she spoke to him on a really good day!!
Right now all I feel like doing is crying. It's not right that I feel so helpless and unable to do a thing. It's just not fair! Why can't things be NORMAL! I just don't know what to do anymore. What have I dont wrong??
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Have I done something wrong??
What a week it's been and its only Wednesday!
I feel like I have been through a huge battle of some kind .. maybe its just a mind overload!!
Yesterday I received my second phone call (in two days) from the High School where Brodie attends. They needed to inform me of some of the bad decisions he has been making in regards to disrupting classes, showing off, bad language and general horrid behaviour. We arranged for me to travel up to the school this morning to see one of the Yr 7 Co-ordinators so that we can discuss some strategies and the kinds of behaviours he has shown in the past, like things that have worked or haven't worked for him.
I am so glad that I got to go up to the school. The co-ordinator - Dibber as the kids call him - was very nice. Listened carefully and spoke of the things that they are willing to do for the big dude! One thing was he would like to put the fear of God into him. To show him how unpleasant it will be for him if he continues to 'break' the rules. I thought that was a good idea.
They also phoned the Primary school this afternoon to discuss strategies that helped Brodie while he was there. I sure do hope that it was helpful. Anything to get this boy back on the straight and narrow!!!
I've had a lot of time to think today. Most of the things I thought about were all of the things that went wrong in Primary School. The hard times we've had. Oh I know I shouldn't dwell on past mistakes or problems but how are we meant to learn if we don't. The trouble is it makes me think its ALL my fault regardless of whether it was or not. I feel like I am personally responsible for everything. Oh I know it's not me that has made the bad decisions in the Primary School or at the High School but I still feel responsible in some way for how he is reacting or acting up right NOW!! I know it was HIS decision to have the potty mouth, HIS decision to call out and disrupt the class, HIS decision to make the teacher lose valuable teaching time & HIS decision to be a prat!!
I am just so worried about what is going to happen when he gets older. Will he get into the wrong crowd? Will he get into more trouble? Will he (God forbid) end up in prison like one of his uncles? It truly scares me. Right now all I want to do is cry my eyes out. Perhaps it might do him some good to see Mum crying and finding out that she is like this because she is so worried about him.
I know that some of this behaviour could be from Brodie's Aspergers or from the impulsiveness of the ADHD. I have no idea if it is just him testing the new situation he is in and checking out his boundaries. I just have no idea at all. But whatever it is I sure do hope that we can get to the bottom of this and turn Brodie's behaviour around. He is only one step away from being suspended ... and here it is only the third week back for the new school year!
I feel like I have been through a huge battle of some kind .. maybe its just a mind overload!!
Yesterday I received my second phone call (in two days) from the High School where Brodie attends. They needed to inform me of some of the bad decisions he has been making in regards to disrupting classes, showing off, bad language and general horrid behaviour. We arranged for me to travel up to the school this morning to see one of the Yr 7 Co-ordinators so that we can discuss some strategies and the kinds of behaviours he has shown in the past, like things that have worked or haven't worked for him.
I am so glad that I got to go up to the school. The co-ordinator - Dibber as the kids call him - was very nice. Listened carefully and spoke of the things that they are willing to do for the big dude! One thing was he would like to put the fear of God into him. To show him how unpleasant it will be for him if he continues to 'break' the rules. I thought that was a good idea.
They also phoned the Primary school this afternoon to discuss strategies that helped Brodie while he was there. I sure do hope that it was helpful. Anything to get this boy back on the straight and narrow!!!
I've had a lot of time to think today. Most of the things I thought about were all of the things that went wrong in Primary School. The hard times we've had. Oh I know I shouldn't dwell on past mistakes or problems but how are we meant to learn if we don't. The trouble is it makes me think its ALL my fault regardless of whether it was or not. I feel like I am personally responsible for everything. Oh I know it's not me that has made the bad decisions in the Primary School or at the High School but I still feel responsible in some way for how he is reacting or acting up right NOW!! I know it was HIS decision to have the potty mouth, HIS decision to call out and disrupt the class, HIS decision to make the teacher lose valuable teaching time & HIS decision to be a prat!!
I am just so worried about what is going to happen when he gets older. Will he get into the wrong crowd? Will he get into more trouble? Will he (God forbid) end up in prison like one of his uncles? It truly scares me. Right now all I want to do is cry my eyes out. Perhaps it might do him some good to see Mum crying and finding out that she is like this because she is so worried about him.
I know that some of this behaviour could be from Brodie's Aspergers or from the impulsiveness of the ADHD. I have no idea if it is just him testing the new situation he is in and checking out his boundaries. I just have no idea at all. But whatever it is I sure do hope that we can get to the bottom of this and turn Brodie's behaviour around. He is only one step away from being suspended ... and here it is only the third week back for the new school year!
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