First day of school…
The first day of school was difficult. When we first arrived at the
school the kids were supposed to get in a line behind their teacher and hold
the back pack handle of the child in front of them. I put Mason down to show
him and help him but he ran away. He wouldn’t stay in line. So I walked him
into the class room bc there was NO ONE to help him. When we got to the class
room Mason ran right over to the rug to sit down. The teacher explained the
routine to the kids. When arriving in the classroom they were to hand the
teacher their folders, hang up their back packs, stand in line to wash their
hands then sit at their desk and color. The teacher called out each child’s
name and showed them where to hang their back pack. When the teacher called off
Masons name….he was skipped. They didn’t help him, and show him, they just
skipped him. At this point I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t feel comfortable.
All the kids were in line to wash their hands and Mason was sitting on the rug
with his back pack. This was EXACTLY what I didn’t want. I wanted him to be
treated like the other kids and to have help to be able to do what his class
mates were doing. Standing there a few minutes and realizing no one was going
to help him, I took his hand to help him stand in line to wash his hands. When
it was his turn the teacher was going to help him. He walked right into the
bathroom, and Mason darted for the toilet while no one but myself saw him. (We
all know what happens when he sees a toilet.)
It got to a point I was convinced I was never going to leave or I
was going to take him with me and throw in the towel. But as I watched Mason
getting help to wash his hands I took a deep breath, waved bye and left. I was
there about 30 minutes. It’s hard to watch your baby grow up and not need you
but harder not knowing if he was going to get the help he needed to succeed in
preschool. During our meetings before Mason started school the team we were
working with kept saying to me “We are professionals! He will be fine!” So I
was holding them to it. One thing I don’t want, is to be on the teacher bad
side before giving her a chance to learn about mason, to learn what his
disability entails.
When I left him he wasn’t crying, and when I went to pick him up he
was playing on the playground not crying. But I was informed quickly all he did
was cry since I dropped him off till they went outside. He didn’t participate,
didn’t eat snack, and cried so much he fell asleep. Of course when I hear that
I think….”Did you help him?” “Was he alone?” “Was he frustrated bc he wasn’t
getting the help he needed?” That night I drove myself nuts thinking about his
first day of school. My husband came home from work and asked me how Masons
first day was and I just cried.
Second day of school…
Every time we would go to Masons school if it was to fill out
papers, IEP meeting, talk to the teacher, orientation I would put his back pack
on so he would start to understand when he was going to school. The second day
of school he caught on quick. He wasn’t having it! When walking to the car he
would sit down on the side walk and not move. Nope, wasn’t interested. When we
got to school still no help on walking him into class, So I walked him in
again. Down came the tears. He knew what was going to happen. I hung up his
back pack, stayed to help him wash his hands, and color with him a minute
before sneaking out. I stood at the window and watched him for about 15
minutes. I watched him look around the room then start his pouting lip before
crying. Talk about heart breaking. I wanted to run in there and take him with
me! When I picked him up the teacher told
me he cried about 10-15 minutes when I first left then was fine. He participated,
and ate snack. They had an assembly and mason showed off his dance moves. The
teacher also told me she wanted to start a communication book. Every day she
will write what he did, how he did, what he ate, and little notes. I was
feeling a little more at ease. When I got home I started going through his back
pack and found a paper that Mason colored. I was sooooooo excited to see he
participated. BUTTTT then I flipped the paper over where there were letters to
trace, color, and cut out and realized there was NO indication Mason did
anything on that side. So again I thought…Why didn’t he have help? Why is he
not expected to do what his classmates were doing? During therapies we would
trace, color and cut by using the hand over hand method so why couldn’t the
school? At this point I felt I was dropping Mason off at a daycare, not a
school to learn.
Day 3
Same routine in the morning, I walked him in helped wash his hands,
sat him down to color. The teacher told me she wanted me to start kissing
mason, telling him I was leaving, then say goodbye instead of sneaking out. She
felt he would be less sad bc he was pre warned I was leaving. So I did. He
cried about 5 minutes they said and had a good day. On this day the classroom
helper said “Ive been working for him to sign more, all done, drink and eat. He
doesn’t want to sign. I told her….. He knew those signs and actually knew about
50 signs. She looked at him and said “I see what your doing.” Ha ha
Day 4
Same routine, I told him bye and left. Watched him cry. It didn’t
seem like it was getting any better but the thought of the teachers telling me
he would have a good day after the initial leaving made me feel at ease in a
sense. When I picked him up I heard all great things, and was asked to write
down all the signs Mason knows so they can encourage him to use them and teach
him new signs. 59 signs is the number Mason can do. Woop Woop! In his back pack
there was a brown paper bag that said put 5 items that tell about you…what you
like, your favorite color ect. Oh boy, I stressed out about this bc I knew he
would just sit there at school with no help so I thought of a little plan. I
put in his favorite toys and a picture of him and his brother. These were
things that when he sees he will sign immediately. The toys I put in was Mickey
Mouse, Barney, a ball, a book and a picture of him and his brother. I also
wrote a note saying what his favorite things were and a little about them.
Day 5
Mason goes to school
Tues through Friday so I knew after having a 3 day weekend it was going to be
difficult for him. And that it was. He was clinging on me and wouldn’t let me
put him down. Didn’t want to sit on the rug, didn’t want to wash his hands. It
was day one all over again. Im getting a little stronger and was able to pry
him off, hand him over and leave. That was a big step. He had a great day but
was very excited to see me! His teacher told me today that Mason may need to do
“extended school” which is summer school. She said it could benefit him if he
is struggling getting back in the routine after a 3 day weekend.
Day 6
This day was easier, I walked Mason in his class and left. He was busy talking to a classmate. His teacher later told me he cried once he realized I left. Cried about 5-10 minutes. Today was the day he met his speech therapist. She wrote me a note, thanking me for the lists of signs Mason uses and also wrote she was taking this session to get to know Mason. She also wanted to know if we were using the PECS system. Which is a picture system. I recently have started this and found it to be successful for Mason.
Day 7
"Bye baby, momma loves you." in return a little smile and a wave. I didn't have to walk him to his classroom, In our communication book I was told he didn't cry at all today!!!!
One thing I have learned in the first 7 days of Mason starting school is PATIENCE!!!! I'm trying REALLY hard to be patient. But I DO know and feel in my heart Masons teacher wants what's best for Mason. After all she fought to have him in her class after meeting him. This is a new journey, and I will find my way...eventually.
