Here we go...

 

 

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.