Getting Ready for School

Shark Boy is often difficult in the morning. Transitions are not in easy, in general. If he is smart enough to lay in bed for awhile, I try to go in and rub his back. Of course, the other two are asking me what's for breakfast and I'm barking orders at them. They all have to be dressed before breakfast. On good days, he will get dressed all by himself and come downstairs without a word. Sometimes, we have to physically dress him. It's strange - it's not like he's physically incapable of dressing himself. He's 7! It's just that his brain and body become uncoordinated and completely unfocused.

This morning, he was okay until I changed the breakfast plan. I asked him to eat the scrambled eggs and sausage breakfast before having any cereal. Once, he'd eaten a lot of it and it was getting later, I told him I had changed my mind and he wouldn't be having any KIX. He screamed and climbed under the kitchen table. I just let him howl because I had to get ready to take the kids to school. Fortunately, Daddy came to redirect him upstairs. Once up there though, he couldn't focus to do any of his jobs (put the books on the bookshelf, change your shirt, make your bed). At times like this, he requires one-on-one assistance. That would be great if I didn't have to take care of myself and two other children. I got myself ready while supervising the other two and then I turned my attention to him.

He was so floppy that Daddy had to hold him standing so I could change his shirt and carry him in to get his teeth brushed. Daddy held him and I brushed. Good thing he could spit of his own free will. I started acting a little goofy with the tooth-brushing, trying to get a smile. It worked.

I guided him down the stairs and out the door to school. When he's like this, every little thing distracts him. I held his hands so that he wouldn't reach out for things that we passed on the way. He's complaint.

I was happy to bring him to school. He holds it together at school. He doesn't fall down on the floor, he doesn't scream, he doesn't flop around. He doesn't want people to know he's different (pretty normal). I'm thankful that he's happy there, he's learning, they treat him well. I'm happy that he has a place where he can take a break from the rollercoaster.