He was 2 when he was diagnosed. He was in Kindergarten when his anxiety got so bad that I allowed him to be put on Paxil. Since they do not make pills for 5-year-olds, he was given liquid. Those of you familiar with sensory issues know that it can also translate to food and liquids. After the first dose, he threw it up and cried because he said the medicine was slimy and sweet. I could not get him to take it. I talked (cried) to the pharmacist whose family had owned the drug store for about 100 years. He said that he could take the pills, crush them, measure out the appropriate dose, then make tiny little capsules. All he asked was that I give him a day's notice because it took some time. He didn't even charge me for this.
Boo gladly took the capsules, saw the pharmacist as a hero, and was a changed kid afterwards.
First grade was a complete disaster for us. His teacher tried very hard, but she had her hands full with that group. We wound up at the local Montessori school for second grade. These teachers went above and beyond, creating an environment that was calm and peaceful for all of the kids, not just mine. Boo was really obsessed with geography for a while that year. One day when I dropped him off he ran up to the teacher and asked if she had gone to the library. She told him she had and to look in his cubbyhole. I asked her what was going on and she informed me that he had gone through all of the geography books in the classroom, so she had been checking out books from the local library for him.
Boo still talks about all of the great times he had with those teachers, though I don't know if he remembers the library books.
Just before fourth grade, we moved to another state. I spoke to the local elementary school principal ahead of time, and he asked us to come up to the school so he could show Boo around. He turned out to be one of Boo's biggest advocates. When he was tricked into saying a string of curse words (loudly) in the cafeteria, he wasn't punished. He sat down with Boo and explained that he wasn't in trouble, but those words aren't appropriate at school. When a kid tried to beat Boo up on the playground, he took great pains to make sure Boo felt safe. When the school district's psychologist did not want to test Boo to see if he was eligible for more services, he placed a call and told her that the tests would be done. They were, and his services were increased.
Boo still remembers him by name, and his white pickup truck, even though it has been 6 1/2 years.
He struggled horribly in middle school, as do probably all Aspies. His grades were okay, but he struggled socially. As they were planning his course of study for high school, I was told by a number of professionals that I needed to have realistic expectations about his future. He may not be able to get a regular high school diploma. As a college professor, I have to admit that the news was difficult for me.
The summer before 10th grade, we moved again, and got to enter yet another school district. The planner that I am, I called ahead to make arrangements. On registration day for sophomores, Mrs. S met us and took us through all of the different 'stations'. It was very loud, and Boo started to get nervous. She had him wait off to the side and took care of much of it for us. It is a large high school, so she took us on a tour. She made sure that no matter where he was, he could find his way to her room, or his case manager, Mrs. G's room. Mrs. G and Mrs. V, another special ed teacher, became so important to Boo, that when I got married the next summer, he wanted them to be there, and they were. The two of them helped improve his organization skills, as well as his social skills. In 11th grade, they worked with the basketball coach and he became a manager for the team. The kid who started the season on the verge of panic every game because of all the noise in the gym, learned how to handle it and look almost relaxed. He even earned a 'letter' like the athletes on the team and was asked to manage again this year. For his senior year, he is taking all college-prep courses, has a 3.97, and has scored high enough on the ACT for guaranteed admission to the local university.
As excited as he is about going to college next year and living in the dorms, he loves his teachers so much he is already talking about volunteering at the school after graduation.
Boo has always had the very odd gait common in spectrum kids. I could spot him easily in a crowd just because of the way he walked. He also had very poor muscle tone. After we moved here 2 years ago, I got him a personal trainer at the local hospital fitness center. His trainer works with him twice a week and has become a tremendous role-model for Boo. In addition to working with him on strength and fitness, he talked to him about being a good man. Boo has volunteered at this fitness center for the past two summers. He has worked mostly with children's camps and loves it. The staff there have worked with him on the most basic of job skills: show up when you are supposed to, do what you are told, be nice to everyone, and act like you are happy to be there, even if you aren't. He is so good with the kids that he was asked to work one-on-one with a kid who needed individual attention. He has not had many opportunities to feel successful in his life, so this was a particularly wonderful gift.
There have been many, many others who have made a difference in his life. Too many to list. I am thankful for every single one of you who have helped him grow from the kid who would hide behind his Kindergarten teacher's cabinet, to the young man who in turn helps those around him that have needs.
PS - The smart-ass version of Lily will be back tomorrow. No worries.
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