It became clear to me that our family needs abreak after Partner had a little break down about life with V. It has been bubbling for month, but a few weeks agao, Partner just lost it and hammered V real good. V had a bloody lip. sigh... It is so not like Partner. He also hammered a classmate at school that same week (no blood there thanks Goodness!). His teacher did not even send him to the Principal as it is so much out of character and Partner took responsibility for his action. He calmly explain why and apologized.
I had a meeting with Partner's teacher and the GC. The teacher had no idea that V is on the spectrum and that Partner was his guide since babyhood. Since Partner is so advanced academically, she often names him group leader and he helps the lower skills classmate. It is a great approach, but in Partner's case it is just too much. He needs a break. Both teacher and GC agreed and will give Partner a break for helping anyone (unless he chooses to of course). He will also be tested for AIG. The processed is launched... I feel proud but kind of weird about it. Giftedness comes with its own challenges.
Both husband and I had a long talk with Partner about how it feels to grow up with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in the family. Partner cried a lot and we promissed to give him breaks as much as possible.
Me, I'm on edge... there is just so much to manage. V's anxiety is picking as the school work is getting harder. I know he is doing great all things considered. But sometimes I wish we could run errands without having to print a picture schedule.
It is becoming very clear that V will have enormous school challenges. Just today, he started writing backwards without understanding why it was wrong. He has no sight words, does not understand numbers beyond 10. Still VERY inconstitent with his alphabet and letter sounds. Extreme difficulties retaining new information. on the other hand, his Isense is really helping and he is now on top of his class in story comprehension.
I'm not sure how respite will work, but we should have about 40 hours a month. I hope he will see it as a special time and not a punishment. They garanted that the staff/volunteers were trained with background check.
I sometimes dream of a school specially desined for kids like V. And that we would be rich and could afford it!! Hahaha. I feel so much pressure to give him as much as I can. And yet, V is still V: litteral, anxious, routine bound, exhausted by school, loosing self-esteem at every occasion.
I don't want to think about his challenges evryday, but yet despite trying to focus on his progress, I'm also reminded everyday that life is not easy for him and with him.
I had a meeting with Partner's teacher and the GC. The teacher had no idea that V is on the spectrum and that Partner was his guide since babyhood. Since Partner is so advanced academically, she often names him group leader and he helps the lower skills classmate. It is a great approach, but in Partner's case it is just too much. He needs a break. Both teacher and GC agreed and will give Partner a break for helping anyone (unless he chooses to of course). He will also be tested for AIG. The processed is launched... I feel proud but kind of weird about it. Giftedness comes with its own challenges.
Both husband and I had a long talk with Partner about how it feels to grow up with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in the family. Partner cried a lot and we promissed to give him breaks as much as possible.
Me, I'm on edge... there is just so much to manage. V's anxiety is picking as the school work is getting harder. I know he is doing great all things considered. But sometimes I wish we could run errands without having to print a picture schedule.
It is becoming very clear that V will have enormous school challenges. Just today, he started writing backwards without understanding why it was wrong. He has no sight words, does not understand numbers beyond 10. Still VERY inconstitent with his alphabet and letter sounds. Extreme difficulties retaining new information. on the other hand, his Isense is really helping and he is now on top of his class in story comprehension.
I'm not sure how respite will work, but we should have about 40 hours a month. I hope he will see it as a special time and not a punishment. They garanted that the staff/volunteers were trained with background check.
I sometimes dream of a school specially desined for kids like V. And that we would be rich and could afford it!! Hahaha. I feel so much pressure to give him as much as I can. And yet, V is still V: litteral, anxious, routine bound, exhausted by school, loosing self-esteem at every occasion.
I don't want to think about his challenges evryday, but yet despite trying to focus on his progress, I'm also reminded everyday that life is not easy for him and with him.
