Oopsie! We lost your kid again!

You know, it is bad enough to entitle something "Oopsie, we lost your kid!" It is one of those titles that makes parents- ANY parents- cringe in fear and anger. Adding the "again"? Holy frijoles.

Joey has been having a resurgence of fight-flight behavior. In other words, he's been doing a runner. His favorite moment is PE. After all, movement takes extra energy, especially when you have vestibular issues, propioceptive issues, and problems with bilateral coordination and crossing midline.

Part of the problem is, of course, that most folks don't recognize that he has this issues. He just looks like a clumsy, chubby little guy who isn't very good at games. Consequently, they don't expect him to move very fast. They also just let him flounder in a game.

Part of the problem is Joey wants to do well at everything he does. Since his disability is being dismissed, he isn't getting appropriate support to be successful in PE. This becomes a horrifying spiral. Note the "chubby."

Part of the problem is the games they are choosing to play. I never liked dodgeball. Can you imagine Joey being smacked in the head or back by a ball? How is he going to react? How is he going to feel? Not to mention the swirl of children such a game involves, so that Joey i already overwhelmed with crowd, noise, motion all around him.

Naturally, he gets frustrated, upset, confused, and... runs for it.

By now, I would think everyone was aware that PE is a Danger Zone. We have had an aide hired to help with such moments, and this is the prime moment when Joey may need support.

Unfortunately, our aide is having some difficulties grasping how to speak Joey, how to read his cues and signs and understand how he communicates. Consequently, he escapes.

Then, remember that "they don't expect him to move very fast"? That may be true if he's trying to play a game. When bolting? He's like lightning- unpredictable and gone in a flash.

This time, he got halfway across the parking lot. That means halfway to a major state road. He didn't get farther because of quick thinking by two of his teachers, who were more accustomed to him. Both are now pretty rattled by the experience, but they did what they needed to do to calm him enough to stop him from getting to the road.

Now, note the "again."

Joey has resumed bolting at school in the last few weeks, corresponding to the arrival of the new aide. Yes, we have had meeting and meetings and meetings. Now we are considering options.

Not. Happy.