Heading Back: A Thanksgiving Break

Breaks are always hard when you thrive on routine. That routine is shattered, and around here, there is little to take its place. We're not very organized. Each day is a surprise. You just never know.

We've had some bright moments. Joey helping make cranberry bread. That moment at the Thanksgiving table when it was time to say grace.

"Andy, do you want to say grace?"
"No."
Pause.
"OK. Joey, would you like to say grace?"
"YES!"
"Ok! Go ahead!"
"GRACE!"

There's been cuddles and games and stories and adventures. Grandma even got her Christmas tree WAY early this year, and we put the lights on it. Everything was all going great until today. See, tomorrow they go back to school. Joey's been fragile today. Lots of gabble about how many days are in a school year, and how girls don't like him, and he doesn't want to go back to school.

At bedtime, he was crying. He didn't want to go to school. School had too many days. His principal had doubled the days of the school year. The kids were laughing at him in class. He didn't want to go back to school.

We'd talk about it, and all the fun things at school, and how all his teachers are good and care about him. We think there may be some issues with students. We think there is an issue with the aide. We know the break is making him fragile. I think we may be seeing a myriad of little issues, coming together to overwhelm at once- no one thing to point to and say, "fix this, and it will all be OK." I remember being very annoyed as a child when fifty trillion little things built up, and adults ask. "What's wrong?" as if there was one thing i could give as a clear answer. And any answer I did give was always something that, individually, was trivial. Added to the pile of other trivial things, it wasn't anymore, to me.

My poor little guy, we've finally gotten him settled to sleep, but I bet it is going to be a hard night, and a harder morning. I just hope once he gets into school and gets his hugs, he'll know where he is and be comfortable again.