Wednesday, August 22, 2007

A Bit of a Meltdown

Well, my son had a hard time last Friday and did very well over the weekend. He has had a hard time every day after school but able to keep it together and not hurt anyone.....until today. He was told if he sat down and did his homework in a timely manner he would be able to join his Dad at work with a couple of the girls while I took everyone else to OT. He was excited and sat right down. I walked away for less than a minute and he was flipping out b/c Emma was finished with her homework and announced she would be able to go. My son had to write, no copy, 10 simple spelling words. He is fully capable of copying these words, he has done this many times. It ended up being a big ordeal and of course he was unable to go with DH. He had to be carried out to the car and strapped in several times before he decided to stay.

Once we got to the OT's office he had calmed and seemed fine. Three of the girls needed to go to the restroom, this happens every where and every time we go out. I walked them to the bathroom andstood in the hallway between the restroom and the office. I heard someone crying and realized it was him. He was laying on the floor bawling. I asked him to come into the hall with me and he refused and began kicking and screaming. In the hall it turned into an all out tantrum. He threw his folder at me and and ripped up all his paperwork. When the girsl were done I tried to escort him back in and it ended up in a restraint to protect me. He had started hitting, kicking, and scratching me. He laid there for 20 minutes and started crying. I held him for another 20 minutes in a cradle like position that usually helps. His OT thinks it is SID related, I am not so sure. Maybe. I do know he hasn't been like this in a long time and once school started he has needed to let it go again a couple of times.

3 comments:

Kerry said...

You know, it could be because of anything, but it sounds really NORMAL to me. He didn't want to do the homework, perhaps even felt a little overwhelmed at the prospect, pissed that Emma was already DONE, and melted. Then when he was at OT it hit him again that it wasn't where he wanted to be he freaked out because he felt powerless, and I think with kids in care they have bigger and more dramatic displays of their feelings. Then of course it brings up the feelings of all the other ways in his life he has been without power...

Tudu said...

I would agree but we had another this AM. He accused Emma of being mean on the bus, I asked him what she did. He couldn't remember and refused to answer so Emma and B spoke up and claimed he had been yelling in Emma's face on the bus. This is typical for him so I asked him if he did it. He refused to answer so I explained he wasn't in trouble and if she was doing something to irritate him we could figure this out. He flipped out, ran out the door, and started kicking the neighbors mailbox. I had to call him back in and refuse to let him ride the bus. He has a doctor appt this AM so he only missed 30 of school but this can't happen every day.

Kerry said...

I still think it could be within the range of normal for his experience. Raging is probably what he has know best for many years. I don't think it's okay, that isn't what I'm saying at all, but it might just be that he is a product of his up until now environment, not a disorder.

I'm not trying to make light of his behavior at all, but I can understand how he might be feeling frustrated (and even ganged up on about his behavior on the bus) and acting out because of that. I do feel for him being the only boy with SIX sisters. Yikes! :)