*Tap*
*Tap*
Is this thing on? Is my blog still here? Are you still here? I do hope so! Sorry for the unexpected hiatus – I was caught by an unscheduled and rather overwhelming bout of can’t-be-bothered-to-blog-itis. A nasty and virulent little disease, that robbed me of any motivation I may once have possessed, however fleetingly. I am, however, valiantly battling back – and writing this post in fits and starts, in between taking care of my farm, feeding my customers and clobbering bears (FB, you have a lot to answer for!).
So, the Summer holidays finally came to an end last week (far too soon, in my humble opinion – it felt like we only just started them!) and Wednesday saw a mass return to school.
It was hard, after having Chipmunk home for the Summer, to suddenly have to deal with the early starts again! I am not a morning person. At all. Something I really need to work on!
You may recall my crippling anxiety about Chipmunk returning to school – if you want to refresh your memory, you can read a post I did about it on The Writer’s Bubble.
It’s ok, I’ll wait for you to come back.
Ready?
Good.
We are lucky, in that Chipmunk’s school is an infant and junior school in one, so the children are there all the way through from age 4 to age 11. There is no separation of the two sections either, so children get to know teachers and facilities right from the start – this helps to minimise the culture shock when transferring to the juniors!
That said, the leap from year 2 to year 3 is still a big one – for any child. For a child on the autism spectrum, it is especially so.
Not only was I concerned about all the changes Chipmunk would have to face, he was also having to do so without Miss Fifi at his side. She, as you may remember, is in the other year 3 class. Yes, it is fairly safe to say that I was a bit of a nervous wreck last Wednesday morning – but hiding it well, obviously!
As it turned out, I needn’t have been so stressed. Things turned out better than I could ever have expected them to.
Chipmunk loves his teacher (Miss Dillon), loves his classroom, loves his topics – I have never seen him so happy and settled, and in such a short space of time! It is truly astounding! He also has a Teaching Assistant (shared with one other child) – and she used to work with him in Reception class. Her name is Miss Reyes, and he loves her to bits!
Whatever magic his new teacher has worked, I want some of it to keep at home for when things get tough!
And after school on that first day, Chipmunk and Miss Fifi found each other, and came bounding across the playground towards us grinning from ear to ear.
Now, they meet in the playground in the mornings, go into school together, and come out together in the afternoons. After the first couple of days, Chipmunk went into the school building without me. From yesterday, he didn’t even need me to go to the door, trotting off with his book bag and lunch box, leaving me bursting with pride in the playground.
Yes, he needs someone to open the door for him so he can enter the building (Miss Fifi usually does this!) and yes, we had a problem with the toilets – he wasn’t strong enough to open the door – but his teacher lets him use the disabled toilets now, so that’s solved! He still hates PE, but says Miss Dillon is very kind to him anyway.
On the first day, Chipmunk came home wearing a badge – “I am the Table Captain for my group”, he said proudly. “That means I have to organise things and help Miss Dillon”. Yes, I melted.
On Friday, he came home with a certificate, a pencil and a sticker proclaiming him ‘Star of the Week’ – and wearing a massive grin. I don’t care whether he did something special to warrant it, or whether it was designed to help him settle in – I am just grateful that he is so happy, and whatever helps to achieve this is ok by me!
I am still having some problems with the SENCO, but that’s an issue for another time. For now, I am celebrating Chipmunk’s happiness. Nothing is more important than that.
Yesterday, Chipmunk’s Nanny wished him a happy day at school. His reply? “Nanny! I always have happy days in year 3!”
Long may it continue!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Ah how gorgeous is he! Love him. I am so glad that he likes year 3 and all his teachers it is a real worry how they will get on isn't it. But it sounds like he is doing great xxx
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Wow, that's so wonderful! It would be great if it always worked that well, huh?
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Brilliant! Glad he has settled in so well and so quickly!
God so often answers exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think – and He certainly has done so this time hasn't He! He's like a different boy in the mornings. Good to see you blogging again – thought I might have to mention that I miss you!! xx
What a wonderful post, and lovely that things are so good. Obviously Chipmunk is popular and with his lovely smile who could not like himm
I am pleased it seems like leaps and bounds of progress …long may it continue, and with encouragement and confidence he will go on and do well.
Welcome back! And yay for him loving his teachers – this is SO impt!!!
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