Put To The Test
September 4th, 2009 | 
Author: Well today I was really put to the test. Dakota did NOT want to go to school. He literally screamed, cried, fought, punched, and etc. I told him if he wasn’t going to go to school then he would stand in a corner. Well he probably would have stayed there all day to NOT go to school. So I decided to try to talk to him and ask him why he didn’t want to go to school. He said it was noisy and the kids were mean. I know that with the autism he is noise sensitive. I tried to help him get dressed but he kept resisting by taking his shirt off. It was literally really hard to get him dressed. I did manage to finally get him dressed after chasing him. I said do you want to go for a ride with mom. He said yes. I said I will take your school bag in case you decide to go. So that’s what we did went for a little ride. He was going to school he wasn’t going to win this one. Prior to going to school I had called the lady that works with us to let her know how hard things were this morning. I called the assistant principal to let her know of what Dakota had told me. She was going to talk to the OT about seeing what we could do to help Dakota. I let the school know we were having problems and I would get him there as soon as I could. So Dakota and I went on a ride. I pulled up at school and the crying began again. I looked at him and said sorry buddy but you have to go to school. Brad goes to school and he don’t like it. I am sure there are kids in your class that don’t want to be there either. So he started to scream and cry. I got out of the truck went around to his side and opened the door. He clenched onto the thingy in the middle. So I lift his hands and lifted his body as he is screaming at the top of his lungs. This time he latched on the seat belt. So I had to unlatch his hands and literally, yes literally carry him to into school. I had to stop and rest for a moment as 60 pounds of dead weight is hard to carry. I got him into the office and he sat on the floor curled in a ball. The nurse came over and tried to talk to Dakota and he didn’t want to go with her. So they got his teacher. She got him to go with her after about 5 minutes. I walked out the door relieved that I got him to school. Broke my heart to see him so upset though. I kept my cool through the whole thing which was amazing for me. I know he is over stimulated at school with the things going on around him. He does shut down when he gets home. Sometimes he goes to sleep and other times he just wants to be alone which is fine. It’s rather frustrating when your sitting here going what do I do?
I met him at 10 for his meds at school and well he was a little resistant at going back. He tried to go out the front door again. But I redirected back to his classroom.
Thankfully tomorrow is Saturday and he has the weekend to destress.
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Posted in Autism | 
Tags: asd, aspergers, Autism, High Functioning Autism, school, Sensory Distress, Sensory overload
20 Responses to “Put To The Test”
Sorry to hear about your tough morning. Hopefully the weekend break will make things better. On Tuesday, my youngest son did not want to go to preschool. He was grabbing on to everything to prevent me from taking him out to the car. It makes you feel terrible. Of course once he got in the classroom he was happier than a pig in mud!
.-= Christine @ Propeller Head Mom´s last blog ..Friday Photo Flashback: Bryce Canyon =-.
admin Reply:
September 4th, 2009 at 11:48 am
That is true! It really did break my heart but he had to go. I think he was fine once he got to the class.
You must have been exhausted. Poor guy, though. I hope he gets into the whole routine soon.
.-= TooManyHats´s last blog ..Husbands are Little Boys in Big Bodies =-.
admin Reply:
September 4th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
I was exhausted this morning. When I got back into the truck I wanted to cry but I didn’t. This was a big test for me. Now at least he knows he has to go to school. He is just starting to identify things so it breaks my heart having to go through this. I felt so bad for him. It really upset him this morning.
Oh Stacie, I am so sorry you had such a bad day. Poor Dakota. Hopefully the school can adapt their policies for him and find a way to help him adapt with the noise.
I am sure its different, but Gannon’s first year and half at school he too couldn’t handle the noise during certain times of the day. They allowed Gannon to go into the therapy room with a Para or teacher, go in the hall…ride a bike…anything to calm him down and allow him to work on different skills vs. melting down. Would that work for your school?
.-= Sherri´s last blog ..Bestfriends =-.
admin Reply:
September 4th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Well he was fine once he got to the classroom. The teacher said he had a good day. At the end of the day it was getting loud so she took Dakota in the hallway. So she is really paying attention to his needs. Which is awesome.
WOW that sounds rough. I really admire your persistence in getting him to school, that will send a very clear message to him that going to school is not a choice. Surely some days will be difficult, but there are parents who would have just let their child stay home which would have made the problem bigger!
I think it’s great that Dakota was willing to go with his teacher, that says a lot about the relationship she has with him already doesn’t it? Hopefully adjustments will be made at school to either reduce the noise level in the classroom or to provide Dakota with other choices for when he feels overwhelmed with the noise like a quiet time room or some other place to go for a bit.
Sorry for the rough day, but it sounds like you were a rockstar!
Katie
.-= Katie´s last blog ..President Obama Will Talk to Students =-.
admin Reply:
September 4th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Thanks Katie! It was rough but I had to let him know that he had to go to school. I hope there will be no more days like this. The assistant principal was fantastic she immediately told the teacher what was going on before we got their. She contacted the OT teacher. The teacher told me after school that he had a great day. At the end of the day it was getting noisy and she noticed it was starting to get to him so she took him into the hallway. I was have been very impressed with his teacher so far. I know it’s only a week but when she is aware she tries to make him as comfortable as possible. I am not sure what the OT teacher is going to suggest or what she has suggested for next week but she knows about the issues. I think it’s great so far that the school is staying on top of things with me.
I’m so sorry Stacie. I don’t know how you do it.I guess you must be a saint. At least a determined mom making sure her son gets the best. Even if it kills her. The school should be able to supply quiet time when he needs it.
Have a restful Weekend.
admin Reply:
September 4th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Thanks Grampy. I am far from a Saint. There are times it really gets hard. One day at a time and one struggle at a time. The school has been great working with us.
Aww… I feel bad for the both of you… what a rough start to the day
But I’m glad he did well once he got there… and kudos to you for holding your ground. Sounds like his teacher is really good and very understanding. Hopefully the weekend will give him the break he needs to start fresh next week 
A Lil Enchanted,
~LaShan~
.-= LaShan ´s last blog ..Friday Frustrations =-.
admin Reply:
September 4th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Thanks LaShan! I am just so glad that his day turned around. I was worried it was going to lead to a bad one. But it’s ok we got through it.
Oh Stacie I am really sorry to hear what a bad morning it was for both you and Dakota. I’m sure you did the right thing and it was good to hear the school personnel were willing to help.
I hope you have a nice calm holiday weekend and next week’s mornings go much smoother.
Hugs,
Judy
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admin Reply:
September 5th, 2009 at 7:27 am
Thanks Judy! This morning was so much better. Granted there is no school. I am thankful the school was helping too. I was worn out last night. I went to bed early. LOL
Good for you my friend for sticking to your guns on this one. All I can do is assume how hard that it to deal with him. But I am very very proud of you. You i’m sure know will have many more days like this, but all you can do is do what you did today and know that you are really helping Dakota. I’m glad you have a long 3 day weekend. No school and you can enjoy your kids and just play
Much aloha my friend 
.-= Thom´s last blog ..How Do You Travel Through Life? and UH Football =-.
admin Reply:
September 5th, 2009 at 7:29 am
Thanks Thom! I hope there will be no more mornings like that one. That was HORRIBLE! He is one heavy kid! LOL That was the first time it was to that extreme. All I can do is one day at a time. That definitely was the challenge. LOL We are going to have a fun weekend. Just don’t know exactly what we are going to do yet.
You must be so tired! I feel badly for the both of you. What a start to the day. I hope next week goes better for both of you!
Enjoy your weekend.
.-= Theta Mom´s last blog ..It’s Time Out For Theta Mom Thursday! =-.
admin Reply:
September 5th, 2009 at 7:32 am
I was tired out yesterday. But today is a new day and so far things are going pretty smoothly. I know it’s the weekend. Oh the challenge is going to be getting him to learn his spelling words. We are getting a jump start on it tomorrow.
Wow, what an exhausting morning you had! And my heart was breaking for the little guy too!
Hopefully, he is on track and the weekend will be good for him…or else it will be awful to have go back to school after a long weekend? I hope now, for both of you!!
Have a great and restful weekend!
Take care,
Kat
.-= Kat´s last blog ..Entrecard is Broken…..Again!!!! =-.
admin Reply:
September 5th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Thanks Kat! It took alot out of me for sure yesterday. He really has to learn that he has to go to school. You just can’t stay home because you don’t want to go. Once he got in the classroom he was fine. The teachers were all on track and attentive to his needs. Today we are going to go to the zoo. Tomorrow I wonder how he is going to do with his spelling words. I think spelling is going to be a challenge. We are getting a jump start on them.