Schools reopened for the first time since our ice storm of a couple of days ago. Tomas's class was supposed to have a Valentine's Day party Wednesday. I volunteered to be the room "nana" and was planning to bring in paper products and goodies for the parties. I wondered if the party would still go on and in elementary school, kids still come first! We all had a great time!
Of course, Tomas had a total meltdown. I wasn't too surprised having been through the preschool years 3 times already but Heidi (who didn't have any class and wanted to come along) was shocked. At first, T was very delighted to see us but his mood began to go south when he realized we weren't going home. Setting up for the party totally threw him. He didn't want to sit down at the table with everyone and Heidi was whispering, "What's wrong with him? Why is he in such a bad mood?" I said it's because his routine is different: we are there, they aren't doing what they usually do, and he can't handle it all. Heidi worried that somehow she'd set the little guy off but all the teachers reassured her that this is what kids do under these circumstances and it's perfectly normal.
Tomas didn't want to do the craft, either, and threw the picture frame on the floor. We spent about 10 minutes trying to get him to pick it up but he steadfastly refused. He wanted me to pick him up and hold him and I kept saying I would after he picked up the frame. Then I felt him falling asleep and scooped him up. It's okay, said the teacher. He didn't have a nap before and was tuckered out.
I learned that this the teacher's first job and that is cool. She is very motivated and has lots of good ideas to stimulate the kids.
Tomas is going through some other changes which are kinda normal but yet not. What I mean is, he wants to dress himself independently and I remember my kids' early attempts. The difference is that T will get upset about something and we don't always know what it is. Then he refuses to let anyone put a new diaper on him or he refuses to wear pants or a shirt ... Trial and error, I figure out that there are three different patterns on the diapers and he prefers one over the other two. He wants pants that snap and zip, not track pants or pants with elastic waistbands. Shirts cannot have buttons down the front or turtle necks.
The communication issue makes it very difficult. I didn't envy Linda the last couple of days. Since school was closed, it didn't matter how long it took for T to get dressed but boy! It sure was frustrating! The socks have to be just so on his feet, have to match, and cannot be colored. The velcro straps on his shoes have to be aligned just so.
As I watch all this happen or experience it for myself, I wonder to myself how much of this is typical 3 year old stuff and how much of it is PDD-related?
I'm really glad I posted about that useless book I read because I got a comment from someone with another title to try:
Pervasive Developmental Disorder: An Altered Perspective by Barbara Quinn and Anthony Malone. This is the next book I'm going to read.