Hi all...
I am reposting an update because I left a piece off when I originally posted, You see, I write a rough draft first then edit,,,,,sometimes important pieces get missed. My added material is in italics below:
I have really been offline for quite some time but I am disappointed in me because that's not helpful at all. We are all going through so much....so how is it for a child on the spectrum?
My son is struggling which means I am struggling. In the beginning, it was fine. He was okay with distance learning...5 months later, not so much. He hates being online...every morning we walk on eggshells wondering if there is going to be a behavior in regards to getting online. The behaviors are not easy...lots of yelling, screaming, name calling. It's very hard to hear your child call you terrible things but he doesn't mean it. It's an escape, an avoidance. He has pulled out his eyelashes and grinds his teeth regularly. Going outside is also difficult because it scares him. His first question is always, "Will I get Covid?".
Me??? I worry every second of every day. Dad deals with distance learning for our son until I get home...I leave school at lunch time. I go to my classroom in the AM just so I can teach without interruption. Then, I take care of my son's occupational therapy, speech, and group counseling after school. It's been very difficult and it leaves me wondering if I am doing my best as a mom and as a teacher, who wants the best for her students.
Sometimes, in these times, I think we forget that we are doing the best we can. We have families or jobs or friends....some of us have kids with special needs. We are going through a lot, an unknown. That in itself is hard. Distance learning...distance teaching...distance anything.... is hard. I mean hard....
A child on the spectrum needs routine. My son needs to feel secure in the changing world around him so do I send him back to school? Do I keep him home? No matter what I decide, I feel like I am wrong. Yet, he needs consistency...the routine that makes days somewhat normal....so what do you do? What do you choose? It's a struggle. It often keeps me up at night.
M ultimate decision is to send him to school 2 days a week. Give him that sense of normalcy...all while I worry....am I right or am I wrong?
My thought...do the best you can. That's it! That's all anyone can do!
TTFN
Martha
