Another Day in Paradise

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

"That's what Kevin and I kept repeating today," reports Diver.

But Kevin is a paraprofessional and is paid to be there.

Yes, another day coping with violent-chaos-meltdowns in the classroom. And with a safe space to retreat to, Diver now feels safe in the building, 'tho not in class.

Today's festivities included one student attacking another. Teacher hit by flying book. Two students in physical alteration.

Diver is coping and the team has met and discussed transition to a new school, but to his list of physical stress symptoms (stammering, tic, stress eating) is a newbie, nausea.

Yet, God bless him, he mustered his strength and moxie to go to his funjoyment social skills group tonight.

"You are the strongest boy I know." I said to Diver.

"I know," he replied.

Diver's been asking me to change his name to Elmer Fudd. Today's the day. He earned it.
Elmer, it is.

Growing Pains

It's not all good news.
Diver has grown so much that he has outgrown his school. Thrilling, right?
Yes and no.
Going back to school with such high hopes only to find it no longer works.
We thought this day might come, but not so soon.
He is coping valiantly with classmates in constant meltdown, whose social skills he describes as "bad as Hitler's."
But the stress is taking a toll. He trudges in, dispirited and silent. He becomes a dead weight in front of the big screen, unable to move. He struggles off in the morning for another day of chaos.
We've caucused with his teacher, who concurs that its time to move on, and we have a team meeting next Wednesday.
Mainstream is not the answer. Don't know the answer or how the home district will respond. In the meantime, misery.

Morning Checklist

Got on bus.
Went to school.

Jump the Snark: Tomorrow

Jump the Snark: Tomorrow