What's going on with Jude

Don’t worry, that’s just him asleep on the floor right after we came home from a quilt shop run in Des Moines last week.  Just a tired kid… nothing to do with our recent dilemma at preschool.

I thought I’d write a little bit today about why we’ve decided to have an AEA representative observe Jude in preschool.

I’ll start by saying I really respect Jude’s teacher and value her knowledge, experience, opinions.  Last week after a really bad day at school, she brought up the idea of having someone come observe him.

She’s concerned about 3 main areas.  One: his lack of emotion/oblivion to his surroundings.  For example, he was pinning another boy down on class giving him "hard kisses".  The teachers (preschool director and two aides) demanded that Jude get up and free his classmate.  Jude completely ignored them and was oblivious/indifferent to the screaming boy underneath him.  He didn’t seem to care in the slightest when he was physically removed from the classroom nor did the fact he had to sit in the snack room to calm down phase him when the other children continued with class. 

Two: he still has tantrums.  As the teacher explained, if something he is asked to do or participate in during class isn’t a 10 on his fun scale, he rebels in some way.  It could be whining or pouting, or it could be an all-out tantrum.

Three: his inability/unwillingness to focus on a person talking to him.  There is a lack of eye contact, yes, from what I gather, it’s a general lack of focus.

What Jude’s teacher has observed in class are all things I’ve seen at home.  I’ve chalked it up to him being stubborn, but maybe there is something else going on there.  Maybe not.  The strange thing is that most kids behave differently at school under different authority figures than they do at home.  Jude only seems to have one mode.

What I’m hoping for are some tools that the AEA person can give us as his parents, grandparents, & teachers to help him engage more – a more effective approach to help him utilize all the potential he has.  He’s a smart kid!  He’s got an incredible memory and an aptitude for math and I think he’ll be an early reader, too.  What we’re trying to prevent is his behavioral & social skills holding him back from learning and relating to his peers.

The nice thing about the AEA assessment, is that we can take it or leave it.  We can follow their advice or get another opinion.  I’m curious to see what will be discovered.  It will probably be a few weeks before the observation(s) take place, but I’m eager to get on with it and help my little boy.

We’ve been touched by all the concern over him.  It warms our hearts to know how many of our family members and friends care about him and want the absolute best for him.  I’ll keep you updated.