Day by Day

Too cute and very aware is my description of our guy this week. Unfortunately the second set of adjectives opens a new can of worms.  On Monday, he hit another boy in his class - of course the one who is a few heads taller than him.  We talked to him and stressed NO HITTING.  I went through a list of everyone in his class, adults and children: Did you hit. . .  He nodded yes for the same boy that his teacher told me he hit.  Oddly he also nodded yes for one of the assistant teachers.  I didn't know about that.  On Tuesday, I asked her if James hit her and she said YES (but sweetly made excuses for him, that it was out of frustration)!!  Can you believe it?  I almost burst into tears.  He COMMUNICATED TO ME, correctly. Amazingly, James listened to us and did not hit the next day.  Instead, when he was frustrated - he did not want to go to the potty - he chomped down on his arm rather than hit.  He did a good job too.  I have got to ease his frustration.  Get him to communicate instead of freaking out.  His teacher suggested flash cards that say NO HITTING or NO BITING and show a little kid sitting nicely.  I hope this is a suggestion that came from the top of her head.  This is what is supposed to help my child cope, ease his mind, in the middle of a meltdown?  Don't hit or bite or some way get instant attention, sit nicely?  "Normal" adults participate in a variety of activities to ease stress and frustration.  And a kid, who is dealing with a lot of messed up issues, is just supposed to switch it off? I was so dumbfounded that I just took James hand and left.  Lordy, we need a school meeting pronto.  Don't worry, it's in the works.