So, the morning started out on the rough side since I had to wake Bella up about two hours before she normally gets up. When her schedule gets changed THAT much, it sometimes throws her off for the entire day. So it was rough sailing with the whole getting dressed, brushing hair and teeth stuff.
When we first got to the school, she seemed fine. As the hallway we were standing in slowly began to fill up with parents and teachers and lots and lots of small kids, the more anxious and nervous Bella started to get. Her teacher, tried to strap her into, what can only be described as a stroller built for octuplets. Bella wasn’t having any of it. She broke down a little bit and sought me out. Her teacher and I decided it would be less stressful on her if I just walked her on down to the classroom and let her roam around for a few minutes.
Once in the class, she explored for a bit and seemed okay. When the kids arrived, she did start to “stim” a bit. She found her own little corner of the room and spun around for a few minutes. Another little boy came over and started spinning with her. I thought that was so sweet. It made me feel a bit better about certain things. These kids are all so young that she doesn’t stand out to them as being “awkward” or “weird”. She’s just another little kid who likes to spin and chase bubbles. She still did her own thing most of the time she was there, and tended to move away when other kids got too close to her. She didn’t really interact with anyone besides her teachers and I, but I have high hopes that the more she goes and the more comfortable she gets with the other kids, that the less she’ll shy away from them.
I got to sit in with her speech therapist to see how they do what they do. I picked up on a lot of very helpful advice. Mostly, that in order to really get her to communicate with us, we have to help her curb some of her sensory issues. Her speech therapist said that she’s helped a lot of children with speech issues and sensory issues… but only a couple with speech, sensory and autism. We also got to visit the “Sensory Room”, which is an amazing little room set up just for kids with sensory issues. It has a ball pit!! Bella loved that. She got in and laid down on her tummy. There was also a saucer swing and a big trampoline type jumparoo. She had a blast. I am seriously thinking about clearing out our safe room (living room) and setting up some of those sensory therapy type things for her. The other kids would love it too and it might help her stay a little calmer during the day.
We still haven’t had her ride the bus by herself, so I’m not looking forward to that at all. Her cousins ride the same bus, so I am hoping that it will make her a little more comfortable to go alone. I won’t be able to go with her when she goes back on Tuesday. It’s going to be hard for me. I mean, I was THERE with her today and I was still nervous. I don’t want to be one of those mothers that watches their kids like a hawk and hovers over them all the time. I know there are going to be times when she chews on a crayon, or bumps her head on a desk (she did those things today) and I am NOT going to be there to stop her or help her. I have to let go of some of my trust issues… and there are a lot of them when it comes to my kids. Today was good though because I got to tell her teachers some of the things they should watch out for and what works best for Bella when she’s having a hard time. Her teacher is wonderful and I feel that Bella will be in good hands when she’s not in mine.
We’re very proud of our little girl. Rayne was a little jealous and told me that she wanted to go to school with Bella. So I’ve got the paperwork process going to get her enrolled. They won’t be in the same classes or anything, but Bella’s teacher told me that Rayne can come visit Bella when ever she wants. All-in-all, it was a great day. Bella had a lot of fun and I couldn’t be happier with how everything went. Fingers crossed day two goes well. It’ll be her first day going at it alone.
(Also, I am putting together a picture album of all the things we've changed around in our house in order to help Bella and keep her safe. My husband created a really innovative contraption to keep sockets, plugs and cords from being messed with that I'd like to show off a little. So, it's still in the making, but keep an eye out for that one.)
