Lots of good things happening

So far Nic’s school year is going well—academically, his grades are all high As; socially, peer pressure is working in our favor. This time last year we were dealing with two hours in-class tantrums. This year, Nic is a hard worker spending nearly all of his day in his class with his peers, and his teacher is fully invested in his success.

We have the aide, but he doesn’t really need the aide. We’ll keep her because you never know. Besides, she helps redirect when needed, and while it’s not needed nearly as much as it was last year, it’s still needed.

We were shot down for the 1:1 aide in Gabriel’s regular preschool, although we have consults in place for him at his regular preschool. I think another meeting is in our immediate future. He is quieter and more passive than Nic, and I think because he isn’t an overt behavioral issue, he’ll get overlooked and slip through the cracks.

We finally figured out that those little end zone sprints, complete with a little dance to stick the landing, is how he processes information. He can’t write his name, but he can tell you in great detail the difference between a star and a comet.

We had a friend come in today, a little girl about G’s age. Mom and I discussed starting up a special ed support group for her district. Her little girl came armed with a coloring book and crayons, I guess thinking that she’d need to keep herself occupied.

After about five minutes, she came into the dining room, and deposited both on the table. I grinned at her mom and remarked that I guess she thought she didn’t need them.

Five minutes after that, she deposited her shoes on the table and whispered to her mom ‘they have a trampoline in there.’

Mom and I had a great uninterrupted conversation while our kids happily—and quietly—played in the next room. When mom and daughter left, Gabriel waved goodbye from my office window. And he stood there a long time after they left.

This is what breaks my heart; the realization and confirmation that my kids’ ostracism from neighborhood play is really affecting my little one. Much of my life and focus is on straightening out my older boy’s life situation. He sucks the air out of the room. My little one is content to take my time and attention as he needs it.

But this is my reminder; my little one needs his own space, his own friends, his own emotional nourishment. Yes, he is doing fine. But I need to help him do better.