klmno
Active Member
Well, difficult child had been doing great at school and had talked about how his memory was better since coming off medications. Behavior and motivation had been great. Then, at visitation on Sunday, here it came. He was clearly depressed- fighting back tears and was very frustrated and agitated and had been sleeping all day. He was upset because he said he suddenly was failing Spanish because he couldn't memorize all the words assigned each class period and couldn't concentrate enough in his unit to study them in the evenings. He was failing PE because now he had to participate more and he couldn't take it. He had been written up the night before for talking during shower time and apparently didn't hear his warning to get out of the shower. I suggested he talk to his therapist- but now he hates tdocs and doesn't want to hear any advice from me.
So which came first? Did school requirements suddenly become more stringent and the demands of the advanced high school track drive him into feeling overwhelmed and being depressed? These kids went to school all summer but started the regular school year the first week of September. Or did his depressive time of year roll around again (this is the 4th year in a row that he's suffered depression starting in Oct.), decreasing his ability to concentrate, memorize things, and function in general? Of course, the other theory is that it's all willful and intentional and the only time he's depressed is after he gets caught up in the consequences of his own choices and actions.
It's times like this that I get ticked at this whole probation/parole system. We need a mental health case manager. They have been told this, but again, refuse to give it. The probation/parole officers have to act as CM's, yet if you asked them, they would have no clue this kind of stuff is going on, much less what to do about it. difficult child has a CM in Department of Juvenile Justice- she is a behavior person not a mental health prof (not a therapist) and she's "in charge" of making sure he meets his Department of Juvenile Justice objectives- such as completing anger management class. She has no clue what is going on with difficult child and his therapist or what the mental health recommendations are. She has no clue what is going on with school issues- because of course, difficult child has another CM at school for behavior and another for his IEP.
So, for a kid who has so many CM's, why am I still the one trying to make sure that the right hand knows what the left hand is doing? Why am I still the one trying to get others to communicate with each other and sitting here writing letter after letter and copying all the "case managers"? I have spent the majority of this day getting this kind of stuff in writing for the IEE. I have become convinced that the real CM is the warrior parent and we just have to bobble our heads as the others claim this position while we pass out our documentation to all of them so they might get a clue what is going on in the various settings- that is, if they bother to read it instead of just filing it away and if they don't take the position that if the mother provided the info, the facts are questionable to begin with. Arghh....
At least the sd agreed to let difficult child's previous therapist do the IEE. Now, let's just hope the typical psychiatric attitude that everything is about a behavioral issue doesn't dominate his opinion.
A little Occupational Therapist (OT)- I found out today that there is no problem with difficult child going to HI - IF - I am out there by mid-Nov so I don't mess up difficult child's release date because they have to have their paperwork in hand months ahead of time. And, I found out the cost of the dogs being quarantined- which is outrageous. So, the only way I can make that work is to nail the job this week. I have no idea how to contact their HR dept. to try to rush things along so there's nothing I can do. I have no other job leads and can't afford another month in this house. Bummer, huh?
So which came first? Did school requirements suddenly become more stringent and the demands of the advanced high school track drive him into feeling overwhelmed and being depressed? These kids went to school all summer but started the regular school year the first week of September. Or did his depressive time of year roll around again (this is the 4th year in a row that he's suffered depression starting in Oct.), decreasing his ability to concentrate, memorize things, and function in general? Of course, the other theory is that it's all willful and intentional and the only time he's depressed is after he gets caught up in the consequences of his own choices and actions.
It's times like this that I get ticked at this whole probation/parole system. We need a mental health case manager. They have been told this, but again, refuse to give it. The probation/parole officers have to act as CM's, yet if you asked them, they would have no clue this kind of stuff is going on, much less what to do about it. difficult child has a CM in Department of Juvenile Justice- she is a behavior person not a mental health prof (not a therapist) and she's "in charge" of making sure he meets his Department of Juvenile Justice objectives- such as completing anger management class. She has no clue what is going on with difficult child and his therapist or what the mental health recommendations are. She has no clue what is going on with school issues- because of course, difficult child has another CM at school for behavior and another for his IEP.
So, for a kid who has so many CM's, why am I still the one trying to make sure that the right hand knows what the left hand is doing? Why am I still the one trying to get others to communicate with each other and sitting here writing letter after letter and copying all the "case managers"? I have spent the majority of this day getting this kind of stuff in writing for the IEE. I have become convinced that the real CM is the warrior parent and we just have to bobble our heads as the others claim this position while we pass out our documentation to all of them so they might get a clue what is going on in the various settings- that is, if they bother to read it instead of just filing it away and if they don't take the position that if the mother provided the info, the facts are questionable to begin with. Arghh....
At least the sd agreed to let difficult child's previous therapist do the IEE. Now, let's just hope the typical psychiatric attitude that everything is about a behavioral issue doesn't dominate his opinion.
A little Occupational Therapist (OT)- I found out today that there is no problem with difficult child going to HI - IF - I am out there by mid-Nov so I don't mess up difficult child's release date because they have to have their paperwork in hand months ahead of time. And, I found out the cost of the dogs being quarantined- which is outrageous. So, the only way I can make that work is to nail the job this week. I have no idea how to contact their HR dept. to try to rush things along so there's nothing I can do. I have no other job leads and can't afford another month in this house. Bummer, huh?
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