The New School Environment……

Driving up to school for pick-up, I see all the mums and dads in their cars, lined up around the corner and along both sides of the road, in their masses, waiting for their little ones, or not so little kids, to drive them home. Waiting for the buzzer to go, saying “GO HOME”, and then watching as they all exit through the gates like a stampede, rushing, hurrying, as if they’re urgently needing to get somewhere and yet nowhere.

Some of the parents,
long timers, have connected and are seen chatting away while in their quest to fill in time, sitting together in shaded areas on brick walls or perfectly placed fence mounds, trying to escape the rays of sunlight that sends burning heat onto their skin.

I too sit in my car trying to cover the window to reduce the burning rays, although finding it too hot to escape the humidity rising inside the small space of my car; with opened windows hoping to grab the slightest of breeze trickling in to cool off the muggy feeling.

Listening to the silence, the quiet, so peaceful; as the clock slowly ticks each second that passes seeming like hours; all the while thinking of the still unfinished chores that need to be dealt with.

I glare out over the valley floor of our home town with the mountains on the far side covered by a misty hue hovering above the horizon. There is so much green everywhere so lush and bright, above I see a thin streaky white cloud form as the wind picks up speed and helps to roll it over the valley towards me.

With still a few minutes to go I sit here quietly, as I try to fight the urge to close my eyes knowing the tiredness will overtake me, not long now then home and relax.

I have been so pleased with the process of everything that A.J. has faced educationally during this whole term to date, dealing with only one full blown meltdown, which was caused by other students teasing him, although maintained in a calm and settled manner by the school itself and handled within the school environment. With only a few other unsettled days mainly due to A.J. being so overwhelmed with the enormity of his involvement with the different classes and the work process, resulting in him becoming tired and drained, needing a break.

These were handled in the manner for what they are ‘emotional sensory moments’ and never treated as ‘behavioural issues’.

I am slowly becoming comfortable in the knowledge that when the phone rings and the ‘School ID’ shows up I won’t have to stress about how to handle the school’s aptitude and ignorance to what is purely a symptom of a disability. 

I am allowing myself to accept that this school for most situations will be able to cope with the big picture.

Acknowledging that while A.J. is already coping well at his new school in such a short time, I’m also not ignorant to the fact that ‘issues’ will happen, he is still a child needing adjustment time, with this first school term heading towards the end with only a few weeks to go, we are seeing the reactions of a body and mind emotionally drained, struggling to keep certain things together.

Even today the school called to say that A.J. had “a very draining day”, they believe due to  a form of ‘burn-out’ that occurs with our children by the end of school term from the high demands they face at school and they thought it best to allow him home early for a timeout to settle. They will reschedule his workload and adjusting his timetable to be in home-class after lunch so he has less pressure from main-stream classes with an option of a few mini breaks, early leave time, or a day off when needed, reorganising his routine to help him get through the rest of term.

A.J. feels he’s too old for the usual social stories and visuals, so we try to source other more appropriate routine/rosters that are better suited for him.

Trying to instigate a less stressful routine at home with short homework sessions and enjoyable activity breaks.

With the relaxed state that A.J. gains from accessing the Sony games and due to the routine he managed to fall into during the Xmas holidays, we have allowed the time to be added to his daily schedule.

A.J. begins each morning by waking about 6.30am, around the same time I wake and go for a shower, afterwards I give him his medication and allow another 15mins to wake up properly and then he comes to have breakfast, get dressed, wash and teeth, I help him pack his lunch and school bag, and he then brings me his brush to do his hair, this routine has been the same for many years and still he finds comfort in the knowledge that it never changes.

He should be finished by 8 and will play his Sony again for half an hour until it’s time to leave for school.

Many will be horrified by this routine although I put it forward “Why Not?”

If it isn't harming them or others and it isn't ‘overboard’, if the benefits outweigh the negatives, then sometimes the overall results have to be considered.

And I say anything that causes calm and forward progress is definitely a bonus in my book.