Today Aleck is going back to school, and like so many other kids in the Chicago Public School system, it’s his first day back in school in 406 days. And, like so many other families, we’ve made the decision to send him back to school because we decided it’s worth the risk. We are tired of fighting about YouTube or reading Big Nate comic books instead of paying attention in class. We are tired of paying for a tutor once a week just to get Aleck to concentrate on his math homework. We are tired of having him here every single day of the week. Granted, going to school two days a week isn’t going to solve all of these problems, but at least it won’t be our problem for two days a week and that is huge. Plus, the science is there to back up our decision. Even for schools that have been open all year round, they found that kids aren’t picking up COVID from each other in school, instead, they pick it up from out-of-school activities, birthday parties, family gatherings, those kinds of activities. Plus, Craig and I just got our second dose of the vaccine so we are only a few weeks away from total immunity, at least from the mainstream of the virus, and for about six months.
Poor guy has been waking up in tears for months. However, when we ask him what’s wrong he usually doesn’t have an answer for us. We decided to sign him up for weekly sessions with the school counselor, who he knows pretty well since she used to be our case manager. Giving him a one-on-one ear once a week, an adult that he doesn’t live with, someone he can complain about his parents to, or voice anything else that’s on his mind, is definitely an option he’s had no trouble sticking with. I think he enjoys his meetings with the counselor and I’m sure there’s some therapeutic benefit.
The other night he woke up in tears again, scared about going back to school. We encouraged him to ask his BFF about what school is like right now during our regular morning FaceTime sessions. He didn’t seem to have many questions and he says he’s not scared about catching COVID, but he’s a tough little dude who doesn’t easily share his fears since he’s used to being tough and just marching forward into terrifying territory. Our joke around the house is that the hardest thing for Aleck will be staying 6 feet away from his friends. They simply love to hug each other and we’ve allowed him to hug one of his friends during this past year with their masks on. His teacher and aide have been warned that this could be tricky, but they will both quickly learn.
Yesterday, when we were finished with our playdate at the Shedd, Aleck was in tears in the back seat of my car. Claiming, once again that he was scared to go back. I told him to give it a chance. I told him that if he wasn’t happy after two weeks, which would only be 4 days of in-person learning, then he could go back to being remote. I told him it would be OK. Finally, he found his voice and told me what was bothering him, he didn’t want to take the bus. Now, we are down to one car after our Subaru Forester died on our way back from Michigan at the beginning of the month. Therefore, I’m the only one with a car and since it’s a stick shift, Craig can’t drive it. I’m also working right now as a nanny. My best friend for decades passed away from cancer back in December and in February I began working for her husband and her 7-year-old daughter, Rebecca, during the week as they’ve been getting themselves ready to move to Australia, where his family still lives. This means that doing pick-up at 2:45 pm every day will be very difficult, though doable if I must. But there’s a bus, and they even have a bus aide for Aleck already. This is heads and tails better than the start of most school years. But he begged for me to drive him and if that was the one thing he was worried about then I was happy to alleive that worry on his first day back.
In other news, the Bat Suit is returning to a theater near you! To see it’s first debut in our house click here. It’s been six or seven years since Aleck has actively worn his upper body dynamic splint, the one created by his very first occupational therapist, Kaitlyn Davis, when he was just a wee little dude. Quickly, we realized how helpful this device was for getting Aleck’s hands in a more useable position and closer to his face. However, he was so little when we put it on him and forced him to wear it for different activities throughout the day, he couldn’t complain about it or voice his frustrations. I would simply sing, “Wheels on the Bus,” put it over his head, and strap his hands in while continuing his favorite tune. Two weeks ago I got to see his current OT at Shriner’s put the new frame of the Bat Suit on Aleck. I could also see his looks of disappointment and frustration, even from under his mask. He was quick to say that he didn’t want to try it on. He was quick to say that he doesn’t want to wear it or use it. He was even more adamant that I don’t take any photos of him, a battle which he ultimately lost. We asked him what bothered him about the new Bat Suit. Did it hurt him? Was it uncomfortable? The cuffs weren’t attached yet so he wasn’t able to see the full functionality of this truly awesome device, but he knew how he felt. He just didn’t want to wear it. He didn’t want other people to see him in it. He didn’t have the phrase but self-conscience was definitely the feeling that was flying. Singing “Wheels On the Bus,” was not going to distract this very self-aware 9.5-year-old.
The following week when we showed up for OT, the Bat Suit was ready, cuffs attached, and everything. Again, with much resistance, we put it on him and strapped him in. Before he had much time to complain, his OT threw her computer in front of him and we loaded up some typing games. Now, Aleck has been typing by using his left hand to prop up his right wrist. Then he uses one finger on his right hand to hunt and peck all the letters. But once we put the splint on, he was able to use both hands on the keyboard and actually play the typing games the way he’s supposed to, putting his fingers where they belong on the keyboard. During art class the next day I put it back on him. He insisted that we first turn off the camera, so we did. Craig did art class with him while I headed out to work. When I came back later that day Aleck told me how well it all went with his Bat Suit and that he even turned the camera back on, no longer feeling shy about wearing his new suit.
Some adjustments still need to be made, so it’s not ready to go back to school this week, plus we didn’t want to give Aleck too much to think about for his first week back in 406 days. But the good news is that he’s already embraced the newest installment of the Bat Suit and we are now to refer to them as his “Mario Overalls.” I made a video of him playing cards with his occupational therapist at Shriner’s Hospital for Children, where this new vest was made. Typically, when Aleck plays cards he needs something to hold the cards with and he needs a lot of help. Watch him play Uno without any assistance, it’s pretty amazing.
