Run Away, Run Away!

Forget the back-to-school media-blitz, Friday starts OUR summer.  Three-and-a-half weeks of unscheduled bliss!  It is not only the longest break we have ever had, but it is also, for me, the freest one. This is the very first holiday in six years where "toilet training" is not on my agenda. Unbelievable!!!

Of course this doesn't mean that my brain isn't filling up a new to-do list.  But again, it is with cool, unprecedented stuff.  I want James to get comfortable and consistent using the communication app on his iPad. I am going to introduce it as a constant presence over vacation.  I am still in amazement that James can read and type words.  Having to work on this is so not a chore for me or, more importantly, for him!  Besides major relaxing and hanging out by our little pool, our vacation will include library visits, beach visits, and lots and lots of social visits.  I want him to get out in the world!  So socialization and different situations are definitely on the menu.  Oh, what a rough life we lead!

Of course there are a few difficult issues at hand.  Some I am not sure how to address.  James has three kids with major, violent, behavioral issues in his class.  While the principal has addressed this problem and implemented so-far successful solutions, I am dealing with a little sensitive kid with a memory like an elephant.  What do I do when he presses "I feel. . . scared" on his iPad?  He was responding to hearing a screaming child (the very one who has pinched, scratched and dug his nails into James).  That day, I took James home.  Funny, they implemented the aforementioned (and only discussed up to this point) changes that day.  A week later, class 105 is calm but James is still terrified.  Last night was the first in weeks where James did not climb into bed with me.  If Dad takes over, James doesn't go back to sleep.  If James is with me, he sleeps. Unfortunately it is on top of me or on the same pillow with an arm around my neck.  I am hoping that he will miss school so much that it will trump any residual fears.

It brings up my next, maybe even larger, problem.  Is this no longer the right school for James?  He can read and write. James needs - and I can't believe this is a concern for us - academics.  A behavioral based school is no longer a priority. They are still concerned that James doesn't consistently identify his letters.  Um. Uh. Hello?  He is bored.  Ask him to type it on his iPad.  Or maybe he is freaked out by the kid in the corner punching his aide.  Sigh.  What to do here?  My plan is to get James comfortable  having his iPad with him at all times, so it has to be used in school.  They are hesitant and if this continues in September, James will be moved.