We had told Kai that if he was safe at school all week, we would go to Fuddruckers, where he loves the choose-your-own fixins bar that lets him have as many pickles as he wants instead of the usual skimpy one or two that come with burgers at most places.
And so, for two weekends now, we had gone there to eat as Kai had his longest consecutive streak of safe days at school in months.
But that came to an end on Wednesday.
As is often the case, it was a change in schedule that led to an unsafe incident.
The school had an Ice Cream Social to raise money for a school in Thailand where a former staff member of Kai’s school is now teaching. The event was held at lunchtime, and students could buy ice cream and add on toppings. Parents were invited, though we could not make it this time.
But we heard what happened.
Kai first got upset when he had to wait his turn to get ice cream. Waiting is a long-standing problem. And though he calmed down after that, he later got even more upset.
Apparently, the event was a success. Students and parents were enjoying their ice cream and socializing so much that the staff decided to cancel Kai’s PE class so that the fun would continue.
And that change in schedule set him off even worse than before.
He did not like that there was no PE. What was fun for most of the kids was not fun for him. And when he got mad, as has happened before, he bit his shirt and tore it up.
The next day, his schedule returned to normal. He had PE class.
But he got upset again, this time when no one passed him the ball during a volleyball exercise.
He again came home without his shirt. Two shirts destroyed in two days.
So, we will not be going to Fuddruckers this weekend. The power of pickles goes only so far.
And instead of going out to eat this weekend, we will go shopping for cheap shirts.
Aww...I'm so sorry. A change in schedule at school is hard on my boys, too. The only thing worse is a substitute teacher or aide.
ReplyDeleteCheap shirts...lol...yes, good idea.
Betsy, I can understand a substitute teacher throwing your boys off. It is harder for me to understand why a longer ice cream social upsets Kai so much, but that is how it is.
DeleteSorry to hear about the shirts. But two weeks is still great!
ReplyDelete-myra
You are right, Myrna. We gladly take two safe weeks!
DeleteWell, true. Maybe if they had pickles at the ice cream social? ha.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, any change in schedule probably takes away a feeling of security. It's not rational to us but for them it creates anxiety.
Yeah, I think pickles would have helped! :)
DeleteIt is often such little things that do not make sense to me that throws him off. I wish I could be inside his head to truly understand how he feels in those situations.
On a positive note...it is good Kai doesn't take out his frustrations on others. He had found a way to vent that is relatively benign. He will outgrow his chewing and learn to moderate his emotions. He is a passionate child who feels deeply. Channel that into a positive drive and he will really excel in the area of his choosing. He has an abundance of energy...that is a good thing. Of course...his shirts wouldn't agree :)
ReplyDeleteHe sometimes does try to bite or hit the staff, but almost never is aggressive toward other kids, which we are very thankful for. Yes, hopefully he will learn to channel his energy more productively.
DeleteOMG I'm still a bit shocked that they just decided to cancel PE on the spur of the moment!! That's a pretty major change I would say - especially on top of another unusual activity. So I guess no-on can really blame Kai for this one... personally I would have always loved for PE to be cancelled, but I know my little girl wouldn't! Funny how we're all different, eh?!
ReplyDeleteYes, I didn't always like PE... it depended on what we were doing. But I would have preferred ice cream anytime! :)
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