When Your Sweet Boy With ASD Has to Change Schools

Last night Dan and I watched His Dark Materials. He was riveted. I have always loved the books and I am overcome by the tv adaptation. He sat facing forward, so serious. I was laying with my body kind of twisted. I laid my head on his little tummy. It was so soft and warm. I took my finger nails and gently poked his side, knowing it would make him react. He tried not to giggle and continued focusing on the story.

Poke poke.

He was riveted.

Poke.

He breathed slowly, with a little bit of a growl.

Antonio told me to stop bugging him.

Poke poke.

He barked.

Poke.

Antonio barked.

Poke…and dive to the other corner of the couch.

Sometimes I see him and I want to poke and squeeze and kiss and love him!! And I know that he is his own person and I should respect his boundaries, but sometimes…I just love him. And I stopped. No more tickling. Sigh. But it was hard to not tickle him.

After the show, he began to get pouty and rude. We realized together that he was feeling really nervous about his first day at his new school. Antonio came back in the room and we read scriptures and prayed together. Antonio even gave Dan a father’s blessing for the new start. Ritual always brings me peace.

He seemed to calm down a bit.

He went to bed easily. He took his meds, his shots, and fell asleep.

I fell asleep at about 2 am and I was awake at 6am.

I stopped by his room on my way to the bathroom, switched his light on, called out a good morning, and then took a shower in preparation for the day, before everyone else woke up.

When I got out of the shower, I saw Dan still lying still in his bed. “Good morning sweetie!”

He popped up from under the blankets, fully dressed and with a smile on his face, “Good morning! I already took my meds!”

He was gleeful. He bounced around and did everything I asked without argument. When he got a little distracted and nervous, I asked him to make sure his kitty would be taken care of throughout the day while he was gone. He refilled his water and food and checked his kitty litter. Last but not least, I made him stop so I could take his picture on his first day at his his new school.

I followed him down the stairs and he asked me to not wait out front with him for the bus. I understood what he was asking. He did not in fact want me to smother him with kisses while the other students watched from the bus. Got it. I waited in the office and watched through the video cameras while the bus pulled up.

And then I hopped in my car and followed the bus to the school.

Poke.

Tee hee.

I watched from a distance while he entered the school. The school nurse had asked me to be there to make sure the first insulin shot went all right. Dan’s a pro, so it went great. We counted carbs, checked glucose levels and he gave himself a quick shot. Afterwards I asked him if he wanted me to stay longer or leave.

“Whatever you want.”

“I’ll leave now then.”

We got to the cafeteria where the rest of the kids were eating breakfast. “Do you want me to stay?”

He looked at me with his sweet face and said, “Can you go? I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”

I smiled, “You’re so sweet. I’m only here if you need me, but you’re doing great. I love you!”

And I left.

I know he’s not in kindergarten. I know he’s almost 12, but he’s my BABY!

To feed my fears, I stopped at Schmidt’s Cottage and got eclairs, french toast, and quiche. I didn’t eat ALL of that. I just reveled in the fact that I MIGHT eat all of it. And I wrapped it all to go.

When I got home, Shadow the wonder kitty was distraught. He shadowed me everywhere and stood on my chest when I tried to take a nap during lunch.

I knew Dan had walked in the office door, because through the wall to our apartment I heard Shadow immediately begin to meow in desperation for his boy.

And Dan entered the office with the sweetest smile ever.

“Did you make friends?”

“Yeah!”

“That’s wonderful! What happened?”

He told me about how did his impression of Gollum and how they loved it. He told me about science and how his new friend Joseph was waiting to play with him on Roblox, and then when the kitty got too loud, we both agreed it was time to head to the apartment. When we opened the door, Shadow jumped in his arms.

Overall, it was a wonderful day.

I’m so relieved. And so happy.

My cute little guy with ADHD, ASD, and Type 1 Diabetes went to a new school and made friends! He came home with a smile on his face!

Also, this whole bus ride situation is sooo my cup of tea.