Friday, August 8, 2008

Summertime Dream

Summer daycamp has come to an end. Nathan's not happy about that. Neither am I, to be honest. It was so nice to just be like a regular mom, for a change. I could just drop him off, and not expect the phone to ring, telling me to come and get him. I didn't have to coax him into going. He was happy there, and I didn't have to fear, every time I dropped him off. It's a luxury I never get, and I'm so sad it's over.

Now I have to prepare for school to begin. Oh how I dread that. I keep telling myself that it's a new teacher, and that can make all the difference in the world. But how can you be optimistic when year after year it's been horrible?

I don't want the battles. I don't want the frustration. I don't want the restraint. I don't want the judgemental advice. I don't want the medical advice.

I just want my boy to have a positive experience at school. I want zero restraint. I want positive attitudes. I want people who accept the diagnosis, and don't inject their own opinions. I want my son to do well. I want him to be happy. I want him to have friends.

I want the school to realize that I want my son to succeed academically. I want him to be polite and well behaved. I want him to study, and participate. I want him to love school, the way he loves learning. I want the school to see the Nathan we see at home. Happy. Helpful. Bright. Cooperative. Productive.

I don't want the anger over his symptoms. I don't want his video game obsession to be constanly under attack. (I don't send the game to school, it's not like that - he just talks about little else, and it really pisses them off.) I don't want them telling me that "we don't think he has sensory issues" or "we don't think he's really autistic." I don't want to hear that "all he really needs is more discipline." And I especially don't want to hear, "He's just manipulating us!"

Give me a frickin' break.

All the moms I work with are getting excited that the kids will be returning to school soon. Not me. I'm in tears over it.

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