I wonder what other people think....

We went to dinner tonight.. the kiddo, the hubby, my mom and me.  The kiddo and I go with my Mom every other Friday when she gets paid, tonight the hubby is actually done with working nights for awhile, so he was able to join us.  There was a family sitting at the table behind us.  There was a little girl, maybe 2 who kept looking over the seat at the kiddo.  Several times he ducked under the table because she was looking at him.  LOL  He kept saying that girl is looking at me, she needs to stop.  I told him to just ignore it and stay facing the table and so on.. THANKFULLY he wasn't screaming it, but I'm sure the Mom heard him.  She didn't say anything to us about it, but I did hear her discreetly telling her daughter to stop turning around after one of the times the kiddo said it. 

Now, he wasn't trying to be rude, he was just uncomfortable with it.  That lack of a filter in him, he just says what he thinks.  I was doing my best to keep him quiet and calm.. but I really wonder what that Mom thought.  I wonder what the conversation was like in her car after they left.. When the kiddo got up to go to the bathroom, she did give him a funny look. 

It really makes me wonder what other people think when they see kids like mine.  If I see kids like mine, I always give a knowing smile and don't act like there's anything out of the norm going on.  I am incredibly patient with other special needs children (why am I not as patient with my own?).  I guess I could have said somthing to this Mother.. not to excuse his behavior but to explain it.. but then I wonder if she would have thought we were all a bunch of loons! LOL

Ah well.. another trip out survived.. another chance to help him navigate this strange world he lives in.. even with the funny looks and the toddler who was annoying him.. we survived and it didn't end in a screaming tantrum, so all is good...

The End.

We are done with third grade.  We are done with the awful teacher who has no clue how to deal with special needs students.  We are done with the stress and drama and unhappiness this year has  brought.  I feel the need to celebrate this ending somehow.. The kiddo wants wings from Pizza Hut, so maybe I'll swing out there and pick him up some as a congrats for surviving third grade for him.  I feel like a weight has been lifted... we have wasted so many tears, arguements, and stress over this school year since we moved here.  Now we can put it behind us.

I am looking forward to starting fourth grade with a fresh perspective.  I am looking forward to no longer having to deal with the crappy teacher and having a teacher who has so much patience for special needs children. 

Now let the summertime fun begin....

Looking in from the outside..

Today the kiddo had an end of the school year pool party for his class and the fourth grade class.  Our school has one class per grade and small class sizes, so this is a fairly easy thing for them to do for the kids.  Anyhoo.. I brought him to the pool to meet up with his classmates for a very anticipated pool party.  I sat on the sidelines and watched him swimming with his classmates.  A sadness washed over me as I realized he's not really playing with them, he's playing around them.  You could tell very obviously which kids were close friends and the kiddo just went from group to group, but not really playing with anyone.  I really haven't noticed this until now.  It doesn't bother him, he still wants to play with everyone.. but I know eventually the kids will get older and eventually mean and I worry it will all cause him pain. 

I don't really watch him while he's outside playing around the house.. but now I'm going to make an effort to.. I wonder how he is with the kids in the neighborhood.  I think this will definitely be something we work on with the ABA therapist.  The whole thing just made me sad.. made me realize once again that he's "different".