Our school started back last week on August 1st. I know that is crazy early to go back to school, but I am glad for it. It is too hot to play outside, too hot to even go to the pool! Charlie thrives on routine and he was totally fine about going back to school. It is absolutely amazing how much progress he is making with his behavior and his academics. We have been very, very encouraged by how well he is doing on his new ADHD medication and I have been very optimistic that this is going to be a great year for him.
There are plenty of people that choose not to medicate children for ADHD, but we are so thankful that we have found a tool to help him. He is so much happier and balanced. He asks me for his pill every morning. The other day I was at work and Stephen said in the middle of the day he was thinking about how off and angry Charlie had been all day, then he remembered he had forgotten to give him his medicine that morning! We know it helps him and he is able to be himself when he is on it. For a long time I was worried that it would take away his funny, energetic personality. He still has plenty of personality and energy (and still talks a TON) but he also is able to focus, not get so easily frustrated, and he says his brain just "feels better" on it.
I have had little feedback from his para-pro and teachers this year. This has been a HUGE change from last year and is a little hard for me. But every time I ask anyone how he is doing, their responses are so positive and encouraging that I realize we are past the crazy. He is now (for the most part) just a slightly-behind-academically-blind kid. He still has some trust issues at home, and occasionally has some behavioral issues with us, but he is no longer the ticking bomb who didn't speak English or understand or care about classroom expectations that he was last year. I actually don't have to worry about him for those 7 hours that he is at school. And that is quite amazing.
He is in 2nd Grade and doing most of the same work as the kids in the class. He knows the sight words that the class is learning (in Braille), he is doing most of the same math, and from what they're telling me he is catching right up. He is changing so fast these days that I want to write down every little thing he does and says because I'm almost afraid (!) of him becoming just a normal boy. I never correct his English because I love the way he talks so much!
He has told me that he is having some trouble making friends this year, but it sounds like this week is better than last week. Last year his class was established when he came in and everyone knew all about him coming. This year, he just started with everyone else, so he didn't seem quite so much like the exotic guest. Kids that can't see often have a very hard time making friends. They lack the confidence to ask people who they are and most kids don't naturally announce their names when they approach. They miss out on body language and social cues that most of us take for granted. They often have a hard time remembering people's names because they have to remember their voice or smell as opposed to their face. But Charlie is very social, funny and charming, so once the kids get used to him, he is sure to be quite loved by his classmates. Who wouldn't love this face?
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