Today I made the call.
In January, I'm going to have G evaluated for sensory processing disorder.
I kept thinking, "He doesn't do this at school. He can hold it together." He got all Os (outstandings) the first two grading periods. I had contacted the school district in May about his sensory issues and my concern that they would impact his time in kindergarten, but I now know that they won't even look at him. Why would they? His grades are terrific, and his teachers adore him.
The problem is at home. Maybe he is working so hard to keep his stuff together at school that he can't do it at home, where he knows we will always love him. Maybe I'm the problem.....his tantrums that are excessive and come from out of nowhere set me on edge. Though I try to remain calm, maybe he is picking up on my sensitivity to his sensitivity and that is making it worse. If he is a "spirited" child, I think it is safe to assume it was me from whence this came.
It has come to the point where I simply can't handle it anymore so I'm doing the only thing I know how to do, and that is seek help. Find someone who knows more than me, who can look objectively at G's personality and behavior, at my reactions to his personality and behavior.
I know my limitations and weaknesses. I've done the work on myself....I know what sets me off, and I've learned to handle that. With my medication and the tools I learned in CBT, it is still all I can do most days to handle my own stuff, to live within my own head comfortably.
When I have an out-of-control 6-year-old screaming about his back itching or whatever "thing" of the moment sets him off, I move into "fight or flight" mode. I want to run or I want to hit him, and neither of those are good options.
He's got classic sensitivity issues----tags in clothes, seams in socks, must have shoes tightened to the point of bondage, food texture issues, loud noises, dark spaces. But he's also emotionally intense and terrifically persistent.
I've read books, but I honestly feel like I need to carry books around with me to refer to them every time G slips into one of his fits. As much as I hate it, I know I need support from someone who can either tell me G is fine, and I'm the problem, or G has problems, and I'm just making them worse.
It always feels like failure to know you can't do it on your own, but I have to remind myself over and over that asking for help is strength.
In January, I'm going to have G evaluated for sensory processing disorder.
I kept thinking, "He doesn't do this at school. He can hold it together." He got all Os (outstandings) the first two grading periods. I had contacted the school district in May about his sensory issues and my concern that they would impact his time in kindergarten, but I now know that they won't even look at him. Why would they? His grades are terrific, and his teachers adore him.
The problem is at home. Maybe he is working so hard to keep his stuff together at school that he can't do it at home, where he knows we will always love him. Maybe I'm the problem.....his tantrums that are excessive and come from out of nowhere set me on edge. Though I try to remain calm, maybe he is picking up on my sensitivity to his sensitivity and that is making it worse. If he is a "spirited" child, I think it is safe to assume it was me from whence this came.
It has come to the point where I simply can't handle it anymore so I'm doing the only thing I know how to do, and that is seek help. Find someone who knows more than me, who can look objectively at G's personality and behavior, at my reactions to his personality and behavior.
I know my limitations and weaknesses. I've done the work on myself....I know what sets me off, and I've learned to handle that. With my medication and the tools I learned in CBT, it is still all I can do most days to handle my own stuff, to live within my own head comfortably.
When I have an out-of-control 6-year-old screaming about his back itching or whatever "thing" of the moment sets him off, I move into "fight or flight" mode. I want to run or I want to hit him, and neither of those are good options.
He's got classic sensitivity issues----tags in clothes, seams in socks, must have shoes tightened to the point of bondage, food texture issues, loud noises, dark spaces. But he's also emotionally intense and terrifically persistent.
I've read books, but I honestly feel like I need to carry books around with me to refer to them every time G slips into one of his fits. As much as I hate it, I know I need support from someone who can either tell me G is fine, and I'm the problem, or G has problems, and I'm just making them worse.
It always feels like failure to know you can't do it on your own, but I have to remind myself over and over that asking for help is strength.
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