School is In!

Ben started kindergarten all day...finally! He loves it. I love it too! I met with the school's 504 plan team before last school year ended, and then again just before school started. I trained his aides for a couple of days when school began. His aides are doing the best they can, but because of the short time I had to train them, I have to help them along now and then. During training, I had to chuckle because his aides wanted to have conversation with him, and felt like they were being rude if they didn't talk. They even felt pity when I removed one of his smiley faces off of his board. I think their attitudes have probably changed a bit. Overall, I am happy with their efforts, and thankful for them.

Ben eats lunch each day in a little room in the nurse's office. He is pulled out of class about 30 minutes early so he will have enough time to eat. He was too distracted with the blinds in the window open, so those get closed. We did as much as we could to minimize distractions, and keep that room like the simple room at Kennedy-Krieger. He sits at a small table, and his aide sits on the opposite side and times him. If he earns level 2, he misses recess, and must sit on the wall. This is pure torture for him, as recess time is his favorite time to run, play, and socialize. I hear that he is the "crazy man" of the playground.

Ben did a great job eating for them for a couple of weeks, and then the honeymoon period wore off, and he let some of those true colors shine through. He has thrown up, acted up, and earned level 2 for them. I have to say, however, that I enjoy having a break, and having someone else deal with that situation, instead of me.

This morning I put a call into the clinic, because Ben has been holding food in his mouth, and not chewing. He is taking way too long to chew as well. He gets distracted and stares off, and does not remember to chew. It is irritating for us, and for the aides at school. It will be interesting to see what his behavioral psych has to say about it. Hopefully she will call soon.

With school starting, I am having a miserable time getting him to eat breakfast. He is not a breakfast person anyway, so our rushed schedule is tough stuff. I do not have time to use his program in the mornings. I have to make his lunch, as well as Dan's. I help my other kids get out the door, and have a few carpools that I am responsible for during the week before the school day begins. I know the clinic will ask about how each meal is going, and I will have to report that breakfast is dismal. I get him out of bed too early each morning. He is supposed to have only 45 minutes to eat, and it always takes him about 75 minutes. I try to endure mornings.

I really look forward to the day when he will eat on his own accord, but I am still grateful for the improvements and growth Ben has made.