mrs.confused
New Member
I don't really know about how to post an introduction to this sort of place, but I'll give it a shot. I haven't a whole lot to lose, I guess.
I'm Kate, I have a wonderful little family and a job I love on an inpatient psychiatric unit. Mental Health is my specialty, really, and I have always had a deep connection to those who are struggling. I never thought that I would have a child with a suspected (not confirmed, as of yet..) mental health disorder. Today, that all came crashing down around me. Today, I just *knew*.
My six-year-old boy is a complete sweetheart, very intelligent (esp. with numbers/patterns) and sensitive. The issues have been building for awhile now, and I feel guilty for chalking them up as "testing limits" and other such things. I suddenly see the whole picture and am saddened and disappointed in myself as a mother. I received a call from a counselor at my son's school, he was in the "focus room" and apparently was having a horrible day. Right after I dropped him off, he was pinching other students in line, screaming "I HATE yOU" at them and the teachers assistant, then all-out refused to go inside an LAID on the ground in defiance. This was within 5 minutes of me dropping him off at school.
He has in the past month: Been disrespectful to the teacher on a daily basis, Been making "strange" (teachers words, not mine) noises continuosly during class or when he is frustrated, thrown scissors at another student, ran AWAY from the school at lunchtime and came home, crying during class, and throwing tantrums when he does not get his way. It wasn't always this way. At the beginning of the school year, he was getting good reports just about everyday. There was RARELY a problem, and usually it was something minor...not following directions on time or talking out of turn.
Two weeks ago, when he showed up at home during lunch, I freaked out. I mean, he is SIX. A kindergartener. I took him immediately to the principals office and made him finish out the day, with him losing favorite privedges at home. At that time, we set up an appointment to come up with an IEP for him, that meeting is scheduled for this thursday. My husband and I have been working on his behavior and he is generally well-behaved at home, thought he does need a time-out every once in a while. We review the "rules" every morning before I drop him off at school. I do not suspect any sort of abuse, ever, though he often blames his problems on another problem child in his class, "J", saying that "J" is bullying him. (The first day of class, I attended with my son, and "J" was ALL over the place, not listening, throwing things, being horribly rude to the teacher)
While his behavior is obviously an issue, his academic functioning is not. He consistently tests above the desired skill level for his age group. He writes full sentences and forms wonderful stories. He reads very well, independantly. He does math for fun. Homework is never a struggle. I am at a loss for words, and ideas.
He has recently had a problem with urinating on the carpet in his room, or in his wastebasket, even though he has been completely day/night trained since three. again, loss for words.
At his conference earlier this year, the teacher thought maybe he had some Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)/anxiety issues, as he is a perfectionist when completing tasks. He will take FOREVER and a day to do something right, and if he can't do it right, he will blow. He has always "tuned out" a bit since he was a baby, my mother would tell you I was the same way. He is very social and loves his friends, though they get frustrated with his demands for having it "just so".
I want to end the school year on a positive note. I want these problems to be a thing of the past. We've had our problems with him not listening, being defiant, etc, but we discipline it and move on, and he does well that way. I don't want to dread him going to school everyday. I don't want him to have a 'reputation' at school. Most importantly, I want him to be happy, not struggling.
I am at wits end with this, and the amount of emotions I am struggling with is staggering. My heart and head are cloudy and heavy. I am thankful to have found this place at the start of my journey with this.. this.. whatever it is.
Thanks for your time.
I'm Kate, I have a wonderful little family and a job I love on an inpatient psychiatric unit. Mental Health is my specialty, really, and I have always had a deep connection to those who are struggling. I never thought that I would have a child with a suspected (not confirmed, as of yet..) mental health disorder. Today, that all came crashing down around me. Today, I just *knew*.
My six-year-old boy is a complete sweetheart, very intelligent (esp. with numbers/patterns) and sensitive. The issues have been building for awhile now, and I feel guilty for chalking them up as "testing limits" and other such things. I suddenly see the whole picture and am saddened and disappointed in myself as a mother. I received a call from a counselor at my son's school, he was in the "focus room" and apparently was having a horrible day. Right after I dropped him off, he was pinching other students in line, screaming "I HATE yOU" at them and the teachers assistant, then all-out refused to go inside an LAID on the ground in defiance. This was within 5 minutes of me dropping him off at school.
He has in the past month: Been disrespectful to the teacher on a daily basis, Been making "strange" (teachers words, not mine) noises continuosly during class or when he is frustrated, thrown scissors at another student, ran AWAY from the school at lunchtime and came home, crying during class, and throwing tantrums when he does not get his way. It wasn't always this way. At the beginning of the school year, he was getting good reports just about everyday. There was RARELY a problem, and usually it was something minor...not following directions on time or talking out of turn.
Two weeks ago, when he showed up at home during lunch, I freaked out. I mean, he is SIX. A kindergartener. I took him immediately to the principals office and made him finish out the day, with him losing favorite privedges at home. At that time, we set up an appointment to come up with an IEP for him, that meeting is scheduled for this thursday. My husband and I have been working on his behavior and he is generally well-behaved at home, thought he does need a time-out every once in a while. We review the "rules" every morning before I drop him off at school. I do not suspect any sort of abuse, ever, though he often blames his problems on another problem child in his class, "J", saying that "J" is bullying him. (The first day of class, I attended with my son, and "J" was ALL over the place, not listening, throwing things, being horribly rude to the teacher)
While his behavior is obviously an issue, his academic functioning is not. He consistently tests above the desired skill level for his age group. He writes full sentences and forms wonderful stories. He reads very well, independantly. He does math for fun. Homework is never a struggle. I am at a loss for words, and ideas.
He has recently had a problem with urinating on the carpet in his room, or in his wastebasket, even though he has been completely day/night trained since three. again, loss for words.
At his conference earlier this year, the teacher thought maybe he had some Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)/anxiety issues, as he is a perfectionist when completing tasks. He will take FOREVER and a day to do something right, and if he can't do it right, he will blow. He has always "tuned out" a bit since he was a baby, my mother would tell you I was the same way. He is very social and loves his friends, though they get frustrated with his demands for having it "just so".
I want to end the school year on a positive note. I want these problems to be a thing of the past. We've had our problems with him not listening, being defiant, etc, but we discipline it and move on, and he does well that way. I don't want to dread him going to school everyday. I don't want him to have a 'reputation' at school. Most importantly, I want him to be happy, not struggling.
I am at wits end with this, and the amount of emotions I am struggling with is staggering. My heart and head are cloudy and heavy. I am thankful to have found this place at the start of my journey with this.. this.. whatever it is.
Thanks for your time.