Diaper Swappers

Minniebees · 07-25-2011, 03:34 PM

Don't worry, I'm not going to post every day.

Getting there was a bit of a headache this morning. I'll have to chalk that up to poor planning (in my best Doofenschmirtz voice). I really missed the little critters today, but dd and I had a nice mommy daughter day, even though all we did was go toy shopping and buy groceries.

Anyway, we had mixed results. In the end, I decided to give them some bare bones info about the boy. Enough that if something goes awry, they won't feel like it came out of the blue, but not so much that I sabotage him from the start. On the form, I put that he has articulation issues, wanders off, and has food issues. I talked to the camp leader (who totally

at me like I'm an uber hysterical mom) and I just said he's a bit hard to understand, tends to wander off, and he has some developmental issues, but that he is a lot of fun to be around, very sweet and funny, loves to talk and have a good time, and that everyone always likes him. So it sounds like there was a bit of drama about his hair (?) and he lost his water bottle (they gave him another) but not anything that I would consider out of the norm for a 6 year old in a group of 5-6 year olds. I'm sure there was something with all of them. He had a great time! And not a word from the camp leaders.

Older dd, OTOH, did not have fun. They made them ride ELMO rides. The horror. And they PLAYED GAMES. She'll be in therapy for years after this for sure.

I think she will have a better time tomorrow. C has to adjust to things, and she can be a bit anxious and shy, so I think by the end of the week she will be having a blast.

Fingers crossed things keep going well for ds!

pcjs · 07-25-2011, 06:14 PM

That's great he had such a good day. Have you considered looking at other schools if some of his functioning is different in different places. Its interesting he does so well in these situations that clearly the potential is there. With one of the kids I worked with in foster care, the aunt and I decided to switch schools after I kinda got pissed at the school as they wouldn't let me see him when he was being restrained. At least let me look through the door to make sure he was ok. And, apparently he was being restrained frequently. We switched schools and while not perfect, he had a complete turn around - still bad days but nothing like before (and the new school would let me visit/no issue).

So, what we aren't special enough to get daily updates?

Hope the rest of your week goes well.

Minniebees · 07-25-2011, 06:55 PM

It's the "honeymoon" period. I guess a lot of kids with special needs have it, and the length can vary. For ds, it's about a week, sometimes longer if he hates you. That sounds backwards, but he has a really strong phobia of people, and if he doesn't feel comfortable then he will be a model citizen for months. Then he'll let you have it.

I'm guessing the sleepover won't go well on Friday. Just a guess, though.

Minniebees · 07-30-2011, 08:58 AM

Camp ended today. Overall it went very well for both kids. The college students in charge of ds's group seemed to really like him, but they both mentioned that they noticed he has a lot of difficulty, and he cries a lot. He lost a toy the 3rd day, and cried for 6 hours. Typical. They said he's a great kid, but "has his moments." That sounds about right. Most of the time he's a great kid, and adults and kids all seem to like him a lot, but he has problems now and then. We were at Sea World a lot this week, because dd was unhappy that she was too little to go to camp, and we saw ds a lot with his group, and every time we saw him he cried about something, but I never saw the other kids cry at all. However, in between screaming in other kids' faces and crying, he was having a blast, and said he had a good time. He spent the night last night, and had no problems at all, and it was his first time away from home all night! They were very impressed that he did so well since he'd never spent the night away. I was really missing them, though.

It was pretty cool, they got to sleep in the shark and piranha rooms (boys in sharks, girls in piranha), and they made shark teeth necklaces. They both want to go back next year.

We got to go last night and have dinner with the camp and watch a couple of the night shows, and I was really impressed with the leaders and the camp in general. Every time we saw them, even when we were just there for the day, they were really enthusiastic and trying to make the camp fun for the kids. It was expensive, but totally worth it.

The kids want to do it again next year, and I think I will sign them up.

Oh, and dd had kind of an off and on good time. She's a bit of a stick in the mud

and had a hard time with the Elmo stuff. But she rode a rollercoaster, even though she has always been too scared, and overall seemed to have a really good time. The group leaders didn't seem to know how to take her, because she's VERY shy, and tends to be a bit sarcastic and has a hard time enjoying things without rolling her eyes a lot. Dd and I are more alike than we like to admit.

pcjs · 07-30-2011, 11:32 AM

I don't like roller coasters so I don't blame dd. That's great the counselors were so good with your son. I'd look at that experience and if he doesn't do well in one school/teacher, switch quickly.

I'd send the camp/program a nice note highlighting what a good job they did.

07-25-2011, 03:34 PM	#1
Minniebees Registered Users Formerly: Mom2two Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: California Dreamin Posts: 8,326 Ratings: 42 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Summer Camp Day 1 Don't worry, I'm not going to post every day. Getting there was a bit of a headache this morning. I'll have to chalk that up to poor planning (in my best Doofenschmirtz voice). I really missed the little critters today, but dd and I had a nice mommy daughter day, even though all we did was go toy shopping and buy groceries. Anyway, we had mixed results. In the end, I decided to give them some bare bones info about the boy. Enough that if something goes awry, they won't feel like it came out of the blue, but not so much that I sabotage him from the start. On the form, I put that he has articulation issues, wanders off, and has food issues. I talked to the camp leader (who totally at me like I'm an uber hysterical mom) and I just said he's a bit hard to understand, tends to wander off, and he has some developmental issues, but that he is a lot of fun to be around, very sweet and funny, loves to talk and have a good time, and that everyone always likes him. So it sounds like there was a bit of drama about his hair (?) and he lost his water bottle (they gave him another) but not anything that I would consider out of the norm for a 6 year old in a group of 5-6 year olds. I'm sure there was something with all of them. He had a great time! And not a word from the camp leaders. Older dd, OTOH, did not have fun. They made them ride ELMO rides. The horror. And they PLAYED GAMES. She'll be in therapy for years after this for sure. I think she will have a better time tomorrow. C has to adjust to things, and she can be a bit anxious and shy, so I think by the end of the week she will be having a blast. Fingers crossed things keep going well for ds! __________________ "There are places I remember, all my life, though some have changed. Some forever not for better. Some have gone and some remain. All these places have their moments with lovers and friends I still can recall. Some are dead and some are living. In my life I've loved them all." John Lennon ~For my dad, whom I will miss dearly.

07-25-2011, 06:14 PM	#2
pcjs Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 14,206	Re: Summer Camp Day 1 That's great he had such a good day. Have you considered looking at other schools if some of his functioning is different in different places. Its interesting he does so well in these situations that clearly the potential is there. With one of the kids I worked with in foster care, the aunt and I decided to switch schools after I kinda got pissed at the school as they wouldn't let me see him when he was being restrained. At least let me look through the door to make sure he was ok. And, apparently he was being restrained frequently. We switched schools and while not perfect, he had a complete turn around - still bad days but nothing like before (and the new school would let me visit/no issue). So, what we aren't special enough to get daily updates? Hope the rest of your week goes well. __________________ Mom to my wonderfully sweet toddler who is the joy of our lives. :

07-25-2011, 06:55 PM	#3
Minniebees Registered Users Formerly: Mom2two Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: California Dreamin Posts: 8,326 Ratings: 42 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Summer Camp Day 1 It's the "honeymoon" period. I guess a lot of kids with special needs have it, and the length can vary. For ds, it's about a week, sometimes longer if he hates you. That sounds backwards, but he has a really strong phobia of people, and if he doesn't feel comfortable then he will be a model citizen for months. Then he'll let you have it. I'm guessing the sleepover won't go well on Friday. Just a guess, though. __________________ "There are places I remember, all my life, though some have changed. Some forever not for better. Some have gone and some remain. All these places have their moments with lovers and friends I still can recall. Some are dead and some are living. In my life I've loved them all." John Lennon ~For my dad, whom I will miss dearly.

07-30-2011, 08:58 AM	#4
Minniebees Registered Users Formerly: Mom2two Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: California Dreamin Posts: 8,326 Ratings: 42 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Summer Camp Day 1 Camp ended today. Overall it went very well for both kids. The college students in charge of ds's group seemed to really like him, but they both mentioned that they noticed he has a lot of difficulty, and he cries a lot. He lost a toy the 3rd day, and cried for 6 hours. Typical. They said he's a great kid, but "has his moments." That sounds about right. Most of the time he's a great kid, and adults and kids all seem to like him a lot, but he has problems now and then. We were at Sea World a lot this week, because dd was unhappy that she was too little to go to camp, and we saw ds a lot with his group, and every time we saw him he cried about something, but I never saw the other kids cry at all. However, in between screaming in other kids' faces and crying, he was having a blast, and said he had a good time. He spent the night last night, and had no problems at all, and it was his first time away from home all night! They were very impressed that he did so well since he'd never spent the night away. I was really missing them, though. It was pretty cool, they got to sleep in the shark and piranha rooms (boys in sharks, girls in piranha), and they made shark teeth necklaces. They both want to go back next year. We got to go last night and have dinner with the camp and watch a couple of the night shows, and I was really impressed with the leaders and the camp in general. Every time we saw them, even when we were just there for the day, they were really enthusiastic and trying to make the camp fun for the kids. It was expensive, but totally worth it. The kids want to do it again next year, and I think I will sign them up. Oh, and dd had kind of an off and on good time. She's a bit of a stick in the mud and had a hard time with the Elmo stuff. But she rode a rollercoaster, even though she has always been too scared, and overall seemed to have a really good time. The group leaders didn't seem to know how to take her, because she's VERY shy, and tends to be a bit sarcastic and has a hard time enjoying things without rolling her eyes a lot. Dd and I are more alike than we like to admit. __________________ "There are places I remember, all my life, though some have changed. Some forever not for better. Some have gone and some remain. All these places have their moments with lovers and friends I still can recall. Some are dead and some are living. In my life I've loved them all." John Lennon ~For my dad, whom I will miss dearly.

07-30-2011, 11:32 AM	#5
pcjs Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 14,206	Re: Summer Camp Day 1 I don't like roller coasters so I don't blame dd. That's great the counselors were so good with your son. I'd look at that experience and if he doesn't do well in one school/teacher, switch quickly. I'd send the camp/program a nice note highlighting what a good job they did. __________________ Mom to my wonderfully sweet toddler who is the joy of our lives. :