Abby continues to have a very difficult time going to her new school. Mondays are especially hard. We got there one minute late, not enough to be tardy but her counselor had already gone in and closed the door. PArents are not supposed to go in, but if I don't Abby lays on the lobby floor so the guard lets me walk her upstairs to her room. (Then she lays on that floor.) Looking back on it being late was strike one. We got upstairs and the teacher was 15 minutes late. Strike two. The longer we waited the more upset she got. No one was doing anything about it. The whole class was in the hallway and getting louder by the minute. The other teachers were in their rooms with their classes and just shut their doors. Occasionally one would step out and tell the chidlren to be quite. The noise really sets Abby off so this was strike three. When the teacher arrived she was grumpy from being late and Abby was beyond help. The teacher was anxious to get her class in the the room and get started. Several students, Abby friends, tried to help and Abby didn't evern acknowledge them. I gave the kids her stuff and they took it in the room. THe teacher usually has to physically hold Abby down so I can egt away. She either wasn't strong enough this time or Abby was fighting harder. I don't know but this was just cruel so I told her to quit trying. She was leaving marks on Abby's arms from holding her so hard as she struggled and cried and yelled for me. The teacher gave up and went to class. We went downstairs to find the counselor. It did not go any better down there. Abby really likes her but when she is upset the counselor is not always enough to calm her. Seeing Abby so upset upsets Lilly who was now screaming as well. I was able to hand her off and run out the door. The counselor had called twice before I walked back home. KAtie spoke to her and told me to go back to the school! I didn't want Abby to see me againa nd haveto do the entire scenerio over again so I called and the counselor had me talk to Abby. It had taken 3 staff to keep her from going out the door. The principal left her meeting to try and console aBby and the vice principal is the lady who helped us the first day. Both are wonderful women. Anyway, so Italked to Abby pm the phone who calmed down but refused to stay there and siad if Iwouldn't come get her she would run away from there out the window if necessary. (The windows in this city all have bars over them, so no fear there.) We eventually hung up because I wasn't helping. A short time later the counselor called again and said the guard was having to hold her down because she wouldn 't quit trying to run out the door and I needed to come do seomthing. I can go sit with her but I didn't know what to do. No one wanted me to bring her home because that was giving in to her. I fainlly called Kevin at work and asked him what I should do. He left right away and I called the school back and they agreed that they were okay for the hour it would take him to get back into the city. We agreed that I would stay home with Katie and Lilly and Kevin would go talk to Abby.
When he got there he ignored her because he didn't want to reinforce her behavior. They sat down together with the counselor, who explained that Abby was her specail friend and how disappointed she was in her behavior that day. They both said that everyone there wantsto help Abby but they can't when she doesn't say exactly what is wrong. Abby then exaplined about about getting there after the door shut and the teacher being late. They all went up to get Abby's lunchbox from her room adn talked to Mrs Broomfield. Kevin said the lunchroom was as bad or worse than Abby said. We will do something about that. He said there was no supervision and no order. The kids were screaming and up moving around. They got her stuff and went back to the office to eat. Then Mrs Mathern, the counselor, and Abby went to class. She wanted Kevin to pick her up so he didn't go back to work. Agreed that we wouldtalk to the counselor again and work out these remaining issues. I have to be sure that we are not late and get there before the doors close. Mrs Mathern waits for her at the door every morning. It would be a major interuption to the day to go over every day for lunch but we will see what we can work out.
The next day, Tuesday, she got up and dressed and walked to school with Fanney with out a single complaint. All is well in the world again until next Monday. Teacher, Kevin, and counselor did discuss ways to make the Monday transition easier.
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