16. And the Manipulation Continues...

I walk into Robert's classroom today to pick him up. As we're heading out the door, his teacher comes up and to me and quietly says, "We're a little concerned about Robert."

I get worried, "What happened?"

"Well, he is very lethargic..."

That's odd, because I soon as he just saw me, he ran to me smiling and jumping around. 

"...He couldn't open the zipper to his backpack or put his folders in it. We had to do a lot of hand over hand today. Maybe his medication is making him this way."

The teacher was referring to the ADHD medication Daytrana. It made Robert aggressive so I took him off it.

"Robert has not been on his medication for about two months, so it can't be that. Are you sure he's not playing you?"

"What? He's playing us?"

"Ummm... yes. He hasn't had this problem before has he?"

"No."

"If he does this again, just make him do the work. It's his way of getting out of doing something."

Teacher yells to her assistant teacher, "He's playing us!"

I then ask Robert, "Are you sneaky?"

He looks at me smiling, "Yes!"

There you have it.

15. The Art of Manipulation...

Yesterday I woke up to Robert screaming. It sounded like someone was torturing him.

I go downstairs, only to find Robert being forced to write, by his grandmother.

Notice I said 'go' and NOT run... yes, I am a horrible mother.

At home, Robert REFUSES to pick up a pen.

According to ACI we need to basically force him to use a pen; take his little hand, put a pen in it, don't say anything and make him write.

Robert was screaming, he then would stop for a split second, watch his grandmother, then start screaming again.

Manipulation anyone?

14. Speaking Japanese...

As I was driving Robert and Michael home from ACI today, Robert was babbling.

Michael asks, "Mom, is Robert speaking Japanese?'

That's what we call Robert's "babbling" because sometimes he literally sounds like he is speaking Japanese (not Chinese, not German, nor any other language).

To answer Michael's question, Robert says "I'm speaking Japanese."

I don't know what's come over Robert with all his spontaneous, in-context, conversation, but I am certainly not complaining.

13. No Means No...

I brought Robert from school today and I was giving him lunch.
After a few bites, he says "No more food."

He usually doesn't meant it, so after about 10 minutes, I try again.
He puts his hands up, pushes me away (I'm walking backwards), saying emphatically, "No more, go away mom. No more food."

He is so AWESOME!!!!!

12. Yay... Progress!!!

Robert has just began school and he is in an integrated classroom now.

His teachers tell me he is very talkative and everything he says is in context.

As I was bringing him home yesterday, he says "Mom, I want to go home."

"We are going home honey."

"Mom, I want to go inside the house."

"When we go home, we will go inside the house honey."

I was actually having an in-context conversation with him. He is so great.

11. Little Ears Hear EVERYTHING...

I have a H U G E problem...

So I used to curse... worse than a sailor. I have curbed my cursing, especially around the children. The worse thing I've been saying is "Jesus Christ."

I know this can offend some people, but to me it's about as strong as an F Me (which is my favorite expression when it comes to cursing). Yes... I am a horrible person.

Anyway... yesterday morning Robert is sitting in front of his volcano, which he got for Christmas, when all of a sudden a hear his tiny voice saying "Jesus Fucking Christ!"

THAT got my attention. I thought I did not hear right. I stop what I'm doing and quietly listen and again... "Jesus Fucking Christ."

Michael goes to Robert and says "Robert, don't say that. That's bad"
He then comes to me and says really loud "MOM, ROBERT SAID JESUS FUCKING CHRIST."

I'm in hell!!! Now Michael is saying it too.

I ignored it. As hard as it was, I ignored it. Luckily Robert stopped saying it after three times. I learned with the boys, if I don't ignore what they say, they will say it over and over and over.

I know I curse, but I can't remember the last time I said this. I personally think it was quite a while ago.

HOWEVER... for this... I am blaming my sister; even if she doesn't deserve it.

Later that day...

Robert RUNS to me, throws himself against me, closes his eyes, and says "I love you... I love you Mom... I love you."