Return to School

I thought I'd journal a quick summary of our return to school after the Christmas Break. Transition from these breaks is difficult for kids on the Autism Spectrum - every time! We (and by we, I mean my daughter) are now just getting accustomed to the transition from the weekend to Mondays! Sienna did considerably well and I think, as a family, we were more prepared for challenges this time around... The transition for us as parents is not as stressful if we can begin to anticipate simply that there might be some additional meltdowns and the like. We are learning!!

Monday - Day 1: Not interested in getting dressed, brushing teeth or going to the bathroom... "Mommy help me!" Started getting snow gear on at 7:55. Finally got out the door at 8:35. Ate Welch's fruit snack for lunch at school. Nothing else. Almost missed bus home. Was "looking at pictures on the wall". Where were the peer helpers who are supposed to take them to bus? Wanted to go sledding. Too cold. Meltdown. Soiled underwear. Difficult to get to sit still and eat dinner. In and out of bed at night.

Tuesday - Day 2: Neighbour friend from JK class came over in morning. Hard time playing nicely. Very demanding (not the friend!!). Friend picked up mittens to give to Sienna and she snatched them and yelled, "Don't touch those! They are mine!" Demanding and Emotional (with a capital E!!). Distracted when time to get winter gear on. Wanted to colour. Struggle. Ate most of lunch at school. Yay! Sledded for 15 minutes after school. Refused to eat dinner with us. Didn't want us "looking at her". Ate dinner in playroom by herself. Fell asleep on couch for 20 minutes. Difficult to get to bed.

Wednesday - Day 3: Neighbour came over in morning. Difficulty playing nicely. Have to do it "my way"! Argumentative and unwilling to share. Lala-Land when time for winter gear. Ate most of lunch at school. Soiled underwear. Very glued to TV after school. Think I called her name within 10 feet about 46 times with no response. Had to shut TV off. Swimming. Fell asleep in car on the way. Hadn't had swimming lessons for 3 weeks. Forgot almost everything she's learned including how to hold her breath under water. Funny. But not funny. Ended up with 1:1 so that was good. Instructor asked questions and attempted conversation. No response. Very unsettled in bed. Squirmy, fidgety, unable to settle. Up crying within 2 hours.

Thursday - Day 4: Awake at 5:00am. Dressed herself (first time in weeks!). Excited to wear new sparkly skirt :). Had a meltdown at school when she wanted to sit beside a friend and someone else was sitting there. Didn't eat any lunch at school. Soiled underwear in backpack. Went to neighbour's house after school. Had an accident there. Ate dinner there and then at home too. I got home at 6:00pm. Two or three meltdowns about bath, brushing teeth, getting jammies on. Prepared her for no school tomorrow (Political Protest Day). Fell asleep fairly easily. Was likely exhausted!

Friday - Day 5: Political Protest Day. Shoot. We were on a roll... Wait. Protest cancelled at 6:00am. School is open. Buses are not running. After contemplation, decided she would benefit more socially by going to school and might as well make use of the EA time she gets. Maybe she'll get some 1:1 time. Changed her plans. Not too much of a struggle. Drove her and neighbour friend to school. Eighteen students of all ages rotated from teacher to teacher throughout the day. Soiled underwear in backpack. Went to neighbour's house after school. Picked her up at 5:00. No problems. (Sigh) Yay! Didn't want bath. Meltdown. Convinced her to have one. Went to sleep fine.

All in all, a considerably smooth transition back to school. Having said that, week 2 back to school after the Christmas Break is even better. Less accidents, fewer meltdowns, and better sleep.