My little Ben had no problems playing at friends houses, going to birthday parties, going to Kindergarten, riding the bus.....he did it all....he was happy and had friends and was having fun. It all changed two days after school resumed from the Christmas break. Two days after going back to school in January 2011, something happened to Ben. His teacher called me about 10:00 AM. He had been crying and hiding in the corner of his classroom since he got there at 8:45. I went to pick him up and thought maybe he was getting sick. He said he just missed me. He didn't want to go to school the next day but, I tried to make him. He would not get dressed. I tried to force his clothes on him. It was not possible with his kicking and screaming. I did not understand what was going on.
After some attempts at leaving him at school unsuccessfully....one where he cried in the principals office for two hours, I told him I would sit in class with him if he would stay and do his work. I didn't realize then that I would be doing that the rest of the year! My wonderful mom helped me out so much by rotating days with me so that I didn't have to go to Kindergarten every day.
Ben couldn't do anything by himself anymore. He wouldn't go to friends houses, to birthday parties, to primary, to grandmas or cousins. He was such a different kid. It totally freaked me out. With Jonas so sick at home I did not have the energy or desire to really deal with the situation. So I just did what was best for both Ben and I at that time. I went to Kindergarten. As time went on we (my mom and I) were able to move to the back of the room and then out to the hall. I seriously can't believe we did that every day from January until June!
My mom and I also sat in primary with Ben every week. I would sit in sharing time with him and she would sit in class with him so that I could go to relief society. Don't I have the most amazing mom?! I got Ben into therapy in March and by the time June rolled around I was already dreading what would happen when first grade started in August. I told Ben all the time that moms and grandmas were not allowed to go to first grade, but I was positive I would have to leave him screaming in the arms of his teacher every day.
I started to notice little changes through the summer. He was getting braver. He was becoming a little more outgoing. Two weeks before school started we were at church and his primary teacher asked if he wanted to go with her to class. He pulled on my arm and I just told him to go and I would come in a few minutes. To my utter shock he went!! I could not believe it!! I expected at any second that he would turn around and come back to me, but he didn't. I waited ten minutes and then went and sat in the back of the sharing time room. He kept looking back at me but never came to sit by me. After about 10 minutes I left. They never came and got me! He stayed and then went to his primary class. It was a miracle! A tender mercy. Oh how I needed that! After class got over and I saw him in the hall he just ran and gave me a big hug. I was so proud of him! He said to me, "mom, I just felt like I could do it." Oh that little sentence just melted my heart.
The next week in primary he did it by himself again! I was hoping that was the confidence booster he needed to go to school by himself the next day. Monday morning came and I was so nervous. Ben was also acting nervous, but said to me that he thought he could do it. He agreed to go on the bus and I said I would meet him there to take him into class.
When he got to the bus stop that morning there were people from our neighborhood cheering for him. It was so cute and he was "totally cool" with all the attention.
He was smiling when he got off the bus! YEAH!!
He sat at his desk and was so excited when he saw some of his friends from Kindergarten in his class. He didn't cling to me or even act like going to school by himself was a big deal. He acted like an old time pro! I am so proud of you Ben! You are awesome!! I love you so much and I know your daddy is so so proud of you too!
I don't think I did Ben's accomplishment justice in this blog. I don't know how to describe how amazing this was that Ben was going to school by himself. It would take way too long to go into detail about how horrible those 7 months were of Ben not being able to do anything by himself anymore. They were long and hard, but he is back. My Ben is back!
8 comments:
Yay Ben! Way to go dude! We are so proud! You deserve a job well done too Brit, you handled those extremely hard months so well!
That was a long second half of Kindergarten year for you. I am so happy Ben has adjusted. A lot of people have been rooting for him!!
Bless his heart :o)
we have no idea of the fears that are in their hearts.
Bless you also for hanging in there. You are an elect lady. You are doing this.
Oh, and you do have a great support system that your Mom heads. :o)
God Bless you Brittany.
And he goes to hip hop and Hunter is soo happy!
Good job Brit! You are amazing!
Tauna
What a blessing! I was worried about how he would be with the new school year and was so excited when he started going to primary by himself. It was such a neat experience to get to watch Ben doing so well! I didn't realize Ben was only a grade older than Max. For some reason I thought they were two years apart.
Ben you are so awesome! The months in the hall were totally worth it. Got alot of reading done. You rock Ben!!
I COMPLETELY understand how amazing this is. It's true, there are no words to describe! This totally made me cry!
Bless his heart and bless you and your Mom's hearts for hanging in there and doing such an incredibly unselfish thing. Every school day from Jan to June. WOW!!! How grateful I am that he has the confidence now to go on his own. It has to be such an amazing feeling for him! Love you Mr. Ben!
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