Support Group

I went to the support group meeting last night! It was so helpful, to be in a room full of people who KNOW. They know about meltdowns and daycares and schools, the same way that I know these things. That alone made me feel so much better.

They mentioned an after school care program, run by the Park District, called Sparks. The people who were involved with it raved about it, and said the Park District would even go to IEP meetings with us! Wow. I have to check into that further. There were two people from the Park District there, one of which I have dealt with before when signing Nathan up for camp. They said they would send me some info. Very cool!

The guest speaker talked about bullying. It was so depressing to me, that everyone talked about how it will only get worse as he gets older, and that middle school is awful about teasing. Geez, how could it get worse? We've already dealt with a bruised or broken tailbone, attepted stabbing, and police involvement. You mean it gets WORSE?

However, they did say that I should contact the school district and demand that they put Nathan on a Septran bus. They said because of the bullying, he is eligible. HUH? Why the hell didn't anyone at the school mention this to me before??? The school knows all about his bullying! It even came up at the Autism Team meeting the day before! Why didn't anyone suggest this to me??? How frustrating. But at least the support group gave me a great suggestion, and I'll have to follow up on that!

On a positive note, I really did enjoy going to the support group meeting. The people were all very nice. The networking was very helpful. I will definately be going back. For the first time in a long time, I was in a room full of mothers, and I felt like I was a part of the group, that I belonged. I wasn't sitting on the outside looking in, while everyone talked about boyscouts and football practice, and I'm sitting there worried about IEP meetings and meltdowns.

There were all kinds of stuff for sale, and I enjoyed that. I wanted to buy so much more (I only got a gel bracelet), but my wallet was achingly low. Maybe next month.

People were so friendly! I might have made a few new friends there.