Tuesday, June 30, 2009

A new journey

I'm considering changing my blog. I need an outlet and I'm not really feeling up to managing 2 blogs. So this might become mixed with a lot of our new journey with K. I haven't really brought up his issues that much on here because originally I started this blog to be about the study and IF stuff. Most of the people who read this are also infertile so I didn't find it appropriate to bring up child related issues on here. But like I said, I don't feel like managing 2 so maybe I'll just make it a total mix of life now. For today, this post is about Kristopher.
This morning I had an appt with a child psychologist because of behavior related problems I've been having with K. We talked on the phone last week for about 15 mins and she felt that it was best to get him seen and evaluated now, rather than waiting until 6 when the school district normally allows it and have him get a bad start to school. I went in hoping that I'd just be told I am over reacting, and that he is just a normal going on 5 yr old boy. I came out finding out that he most likely has a moderate to slightly severe case of Oppositional Defiant Disorder, as well as possibly a mild to moderate case of ADD. When we talked about it, he really hits a lot of the guidelines. And it just started around 4yrs old. Before that he's been the perfect baby/toddler, without any issues or concerns. And he's always been advanced with all he's done. So there was no signs of a problem before recently. I feel lately like I've done something wrong. I gave up a lot to be a stay at home mom, because at the time I thought that was the best bet for us. He was never sick at all till around 3 yrs old when he started being around a lot more kids and activities. He has always been fast to learn things and way advanced with what he does. But now I wonder if maybe I should have continued to work and had him around kids and other authority figures from the start. Maybe that would have helped. I don't want him to be pushed away by other kids, or to be made fun of. He absolutely loves school and to learn, and I don't want for school to be difficult and upsetting to him. I don't want him to resent it. So we're going to work on this issue now rather than waiting. And hopefully we can get the old K to come back.
Next week my husband and I are suppose to be going back without K along, and sit down and discuss what she thinks will help. What's being planned is a more strict behavior plan and advice on how to keep him structured. Also, she said we need to try a lot harder to get him around other kids and interacting as much as possible. I'll get a ton of advice in the next appt.
For now though, I feel like I'm going to have a tough road ahead of me. I know how the schools like to label and push the "trouble kids" aside, and I am going to fight to make sure he is treated like any normal child. He will have the same options and not be made feel like he is different. And if this behavior thing works well, there will not be a need to ever medicate and mess him up more.
I haven't had my meltdown yet, but I'm sure when I tell my husband all about my appt when he gets home tonight, it will hit me. For now, I'm ready to fight the world if they try to interfere with this boy.

3 comments:

  1. Wow, Michelle. I am glad you went and saw someone and that you have an idea of why he is the way he is lately. It's hard to see our kids "labeled" in any way.

    Keep your chin up and your boxing gloves on to fight anyone who gets in the way of helping K thru this!

    ((HUGS))
    pattie

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey michelle!

    I believe knowledge is powerful lady! And you now know what kind of plans to make for him.

    Our schools are very good about "labels" and don't just push them aside so hopefully you will never have to worry about that.

    Hope they have great advice for you and keep me updated!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've been a bad commenter lately! Sorry, I blame the fatigue.

    First, don't beat yourself up for being a SAHM. I'm sure that he has benefited in many ways from the time that you have shared with him and he's very lucky to have had that. And who's to say that he would have done better in day care, you certainly can't know that for sure.

    I'm not trying to be dismissive of your concerns, but he's young and you all seem to be very on top of things, so hopefully you'll see improvement quickly.

    Are their church groups that offer 'day of the week' schools? We have some cousins that send their kids to wednesday school at the baptist church and thursday school at the methodist church (and they are catholic by the way). It's been a really affordable way for them to get more interaction for their children without full time day care.

    ReplyDelete