Non Wed Brag day

[mightymaude]

Because it has been almost a month.

[mightymaude]

DS just got in a fight with a friend because said friend walked over and shot DD in the face with a Nerf gun for no reason other than she was sitting nearby.

He has never defended her before, and actually has tended to follow the pack and pick on her instead.

[akafred]

That is great, mightymaude.

We have a set of friends that we met through school but also attend adoption support group with. It's a single mom with 3 adopted boys. The youngest is a little younger than DD and doesn't have a specific dx that I know of but certainly has emotional regulation problems, probably anxiety. DD and he are frenemies. She honestly usually does pretty well until he gets triggered and then they are at each other's throats and we know it's time to separate. We saw them at the school picnic on Saturday for a few hours and then went swimming at their complex yesterday and we never had to leave early or separate the kids. There were a couple reminders on both sides but they honestly both did well, but in particular I saw DD explain to him firmly how she was feeling and tell him firmly but not inappropriately to stop. And he did. It was pretty epic honestly.

Today is the first day of school, so we will see. DD is looking forward to it. The little boy who was such a challenge for DD last year won't be there but there are a bunch of kindergarteners moving up to first grade. There will be 14 kids total in the elementary class (grades 1-6) and 10 of them will be first and second grade. DD and one other girl will be in third grade, one boy is in fourth, and then there is the girl who should be in 7th grade this year but she has ASD+ID so they are extending her one year, and the rest are evenly split between K and 1. So that will drive an interesting dynamic for DD I am sure, and possibly not ideal for her doing "third grade work." Still, I am hopeful that it will be a good year and also hopeful that this new girl will be a potential match for DD. I hear she is highly creative and her parents are both professional musicians, which can't hurt given DD's musical tendencies.

And on that note she recorded a hardcore song Saturday that has me dying.

[miranda]

I expected the worst this summer, steeling myself against the maturity gap that is coming between him and his friends. But this summer has turned out to be one of the best, socially. He and his friends have only become closer in my estimation. All summer I've worried about DS and his academics in the coming year. We got his state test scores back this week; he scored in the "exceeding expectations" in all categories, and is in the 68th percentile statewide, which is better than I had expected. I think DS is actually pretty good at computerized tests. It's certainly easier than writing out his answers.

In a previous brag I mentioned that we were planning on taking DS and his BFF to a Patriots game in Boston. That was the only bummer of the summer- tickets sold out in an instant and despite best efforts on all our parts, it was impossible. DS was inconsolable (and, annoyingly, blaming us for not being fast enough or trying hard enough). We're still going to a game, in New York, but his BFF can't go. Oh well.

[akafred]

Great picture on FB of DD working with the new girl today. So so so happy to see it. Edit: Actually it was not the new girl, I just didn't recognize one of the kids. Whoops!

However, yesterday was PERFECT. Her teacher texted me that she had a GREAT first day. And at home Char did so many things without being reminded multiple times and without arguing. We literally had zero conflicts. She took her dish to the sink without me reminding her. She brushed her teeth, drained the tub, etc. She had neighbors over but only had 20 minutes to play; when the 20 minutes were over the boys left and she didn't argue or command them to stay (what a tough position for the kids!). None of the normal stuff that I am so used to but still wears a mom out. I didn't even know a day like that was possible!

[macchiatto]

Leo did well at social skills camp last week. The topic was emotions and on Monday, he was able to explain well to his counselor the calming strategies he learned, and he's making progress in being able to identify a few different emotions.

Also, DH had to take him to PT today since I was sick, but he worked with his PT in the pool for the first time and she said he was doing really well and catching on fast, and he worked really hard for her. (Which is awesome since PT's always been the therapy he tends to be the least into and complains of being tired and not wanting to do things.) He's also making progress with pedaling and she thinks we're finally ready to take off the training wheels!

[sahara78]

Late brag, but DD pedaled a trike at PT yesterday! I was so excited, I texted DH during the session.

Also, the PT said she could tell we've been doing our homework, because DD was able to do "dead bugs" and "Superman" longer than last month.

[freezorburn]

DS has been doing awesome at his kindergarten orientation. He loves it so far! Hope he still does when it all gets real in September.

[NandaB]

Hi all. I havent checked in in a while- had to go back to work, and im struggling,

BUT Wesley signed his first 3 word sentence!! "More dog please" (he wanted me to open the gate into the kitchen where the dog was)

[miranda]

Started 4th grade yesterday. I made a grave error. Sent DS off on the bus and then panicked because I realized I never told him what his room number was (he knows his teacher, but not the classroom number). So I drove to school and hung out near his classroom so I could spot him coming down the hallway and let him know where his room was. As he and his BFF came rolling down the hallway I got the death stare from them both. His (NT) BFF yelled loudly "WHY IS YOUR MOM HERE?!" while DS refused to acknowledge me and darted past. His BFF pointed out DS's room for him while ambling on to his own. It is GOOD to have friends!