Hello from the Insanity

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Registered: 10-03-2004
Hello from the Insanity
3
Tue, 09-19-2006 - 9:22pm

Well, Malcolmland is more than a little nutsy. There are no appropriate school openings unless we want to go WAY out of town. We will be sending lots of applications out anyways in case of openings, but as we are just a wee bit crazy trying to set up how our home life/home school with 2 fulltime working parents and an irritable, confused, missing-his-structure ASD child, well, we will get there when we get there.

We are creating a homeschool curriculum and will officially turn down school placement at previous school once we have stamp of approval from homeschool office of DOE and are then eligible for outside services such as OT, SPT and behavioral counseling -- I will look for social skills group in place of counseling but seriously doubt there is one. Still, I will take what I can get.

Rough week last week, Nana # 1 got here but promptly got sick. Ds and Nana are very, very happy to see each other, but she has not had much energy for really being in charge of him. At least dh and I can run errands etc. for parts of days. I HAVE to work, we are getting way behind financially with all this extra expense, I wish I could stay home with ds for this crucial time but I just can't. And needless to say, Ds has had WAY too many screens. Of course his friends are all in school and this is not a great time for playdates, as everyone starts back and is very busy. And ds is really weirded out by not being in school. OK, I'm weirded out by it, too.

We continue to do schoolwork, mostly in evening when we are all here. He is really into playing the piano and art projects, which I am encouraging. We are reading a great many chapter books together and discussing. And some of his activities, such as horseback, music and baseball coaching, will be able to be held during the day hours, but so far dh and I haven't had time or energy to start back. He has also been watching The Learning Channel and practising his computer typing program. The biggest thing is to really keep him active enough, not easy yet with dh and I doing all this running back and forth to DOE and work, etc.!

Augh. I have a constant anxiety headache. He is really resistant to any authority right now, but with work we can get him there. I would be worried about his ability to start school right now anywhere, though, after last Spring experience and with his current anxiety. Why does everything have to be so hard?

Hardest thing for me is : I have always counted on these schools, these private special needs funded schools that Malcolm has attended since he was 3 years old -- these schools have always been a big part of our care team. I feel so betrayed and dismayed, lost and confused. I feel like I can't trust anyone any more. The pressure here is just too enormous, which is also affecting ds. ...

We keep saying to ourselves that this will somehow get better soon. I know you are all thinking of us and wishing us well. I am just so angry at this stupid administration and all the previous adminsiatrations that let this public schools system get so out of control and worse and worse and worse.

Sara
ilovemalcolm

Avatar for insideout418
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 09-19-2006 - 10:10pm

(((Sara))


I cannot imagine what you are going through.

Follow me
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Wed, 09-20-2006 - 10:36am

Sara,


How I admire your strength and sheer conviction! You are an absolute inspiration to me. I know how hard you both work, know how difficult your schedule must be; know what it is like to deal with a child who is *somewhat* like Malcolm.


My hat is well and truly off to you.


Please don't get disillusioned and discouraged with all NYC

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Wed, 09-20-2006 - 10:51am

Sara,

I hope things look up for you guys soon. You are working so hard for Malcolm and you should be very proud of that. Hang in there.

Samantha

Samantha