A VOLCANO SPEWING ASPERGER'S

This week at school hasn't started out quite as we'd hoped.  It's extremely cold here and there was even a couple flakes falling this morning.  As my wife waited outside the school for Jacob to get out for lunch, the temperature dropped a few degrees.  Then the rain came.  Shannie was waiting for Jacob and she noticed that all of the other kids in Jacob's class had gotten out already.  Anxious to find Jacob and get out of the cold she went into the school and when she got to Jacob's class, she was told by a staff member that Jacob was at the office.

As Shannie approached the office, she heard a boy yelling.  And she knew right away that it was Jacob.  He was extremely upset about something, yet he refused to explain what.  He was just yelling as loud as he could.  There were a few teachers and students present to witness the whole ordeal.  Then he refused to leave the school.  My poor wife had to pick Jacob up and literally carry him outside.  Jacob was so mad that he didn't even put on his coat.  Once they got home, his mood didn't improve much.  He spent most of his lunch break upstairs in his room.  We managed to get him to eat after we both talked to him about his poor behaviour.  Then I walked him back to school and he seemed pretty happy, which was nice considering how mad he was.

So I went back to work hoping for the best.  When I got home at a little after five, Shannie told me that the school called and she was asked to come pick Jacob up early.  Again he was screaming in the foyer of the school.  He didn't want to do anything in class and he was mad at everyone.  But once Shannie got Jacob away from school his mood changed.  It took a while, but he did complete all his home work and he became rather happy.  We talked to Jacob about his poor behaviour and he eventually promised to have a better day tomorrow.  But who knows.  All we can do is hope for the best.  It's very weird because the school would like Jacob to get some behaviour therapy at home, but it's only at school that his behaviour is this bad.  He just doesn't act this way at home.  And when he does get upset, he usually regulates his emotions and calms down very quickly.  So we're not sure what good home therapy will do?  He really needs some therapy in school, but we don't know whats available.

I wish I could figure out what it is about the school that causes Jacob to meltdown so often.  He has had a few changes lately and the Easter break did bring up some emotions, but we thought that he'd be better after a couple weeks.  I guess that Jacob's Asperger's makes it hard to determine how long it will take to get back on track.  But we do feel kind of helpless.  Now I know how people feel when a volcano is about to erupt.  It's smoking and turning red, but you just don't know when its going to blow.  All you can do is sit there and watch the show.  It's just difficult when the volcano is your son and the little village is his school.  I guess we just have to hope for the best and be ready for the fallout.   



Can't you just feel the pressure building?