We had a frustrating therapy session tonight. The boys are very frustrated about certain things that I can't help them with. They will talk to me about what's bothing them because A) they trust me, and B) because I'm there in the moment when they need to talk. Outside of those moments, they do not want to talk about what's bothering them and instead internalize it.
This is a very frustrating because the things that are upsetting them, I can't do anything about. They live in a very black and white world and tend to view things through that lens, especially when those things are emotionally charged.
They feel like once they tell me, their job is done and I can pass it along to the therapist. While that's true, at least to some extent, their therapist needs to hear from them. I'd rather not be responsible for interrupting their words and relaying them to someone else. I would be faithful to what they said but there's still room for me to misunderstand and therefore unintentionally misrepresent their message. They need to deliver their own message and we're working to help them do that.
It's quite a helpless and powerless feeling when my kids are struggling and the things they need in those moments, I can't give them.
We're working on it and it's very much a work in progress. On the positive side, Emmett is finally opening up and sharing how he feels. He's not doing in a diplomatic way and he gets very angry but he's beginning to talk. Frankly, in my view, I don't care how he says what he needs to say at this point because it's more important that he purge than express himself in a more *appropriate* way. Those are things we can work on as we move forward. Right now, I just want him to open up.
Anyway, it's a work in progress.
I do have some good-ish news to share. I have the necessary documentation to get home instruction approved for Emmett. His therapist wrote a very detailed letter and recommended that Emmett receive home instruction on a temporary basis, with the goal of getting him back into the classroom setting full time as soon as possible.
The letter will also freeze the attendance status as well, at least that's my understanding.
That's progress and Emmett is not pushing back on this at all. He loves school and thrives on learning, so I wouldn't expect him to be resistant to learning from home.
I'm hoping that we can make this a short term thing and get him back on track ASAP. For right now, this is a big step in the right direction.
