I Do It For Me

Well, he’s off to his first day of school. The bus driver and aide were amazing. They pulled up, opened the door, and shouted out….’is there a Cooper here that needs a ride to school?‘ Cooper of course turned and ran the other way laughing and giggling. So, in true Swenson fashion, I brought him flailing and kicking to the bus. He was in good spirits though.

I hugged him goodbye this morning and whispered in his ear….‘Be brave sweet boy. You got this.’ And he laughed and laughed and gave me a good squeeze.

I gave the aide a handful of starburst for the ride and wished her luck.

I cried as he drove away. But, not because my baby was starting kindergarten. Not because I was sad that my baby was growing. I cried because everything is different when you have a child in special education. I cried for missed first words and missed milestones. I cried because he couldn’t say…”bye mom.” I cried because of my fear for his first day. I cried because his life is so unbelievably hard. I cried for me and all the things I was missing.

This is my son’s third year of school. In our district special education students can attend 3K and 4K. We did both. This is the third year I put my nonverbal child on a bus. This is the third year I felt sadness, resentment, anger and frustration when I should have been feeling joy. I can’t help but think…it’s not supposed to be like this. This should be so exciting. Cooper should be over-the-moon about his first day. We should be talking about it. We should be celebrating. I want the world to know it takes an insanely strong parent to have a child in special education.

The Worry of Special Education

I’m super worried about his first day. He doesn’t do well with new situations or new people. He also did not have a bond with his teacher. Not in any way. That scares me. Lots of firsts for him as well. All day school, multiple classrooms, school lunch, trying to eat ‘typical’ food and drink from a straw, a bus ride home. So much change. Fingers crossed.

I can’t imagine being nonverbal in a new setting. Not being able to speak or ask for help. His only form of true communication is screaming and sometimes hitting his head or kicking. How, as a mom, do I know that the teachers are going to love him and be patient with him. I don’t. I have to trust that an autism, special ed teacher is doing this profession because they love children. And love helping them succeed. I have to pray. Because that kid can’t tell me how his day went. He can’t tell me if he was ignored. Or bullied. Or yelled at. I am at the mercy of the school.

And that my friends is damn scary.

I know he will be fine. In two weeks this will be good. He will make it.We will make it. But until then we are on a roller coaster ride. I know his sleeping will suffer. He will regress in potty training. He will lash out. His aggression will soar.

It should level out though. Two weeks. Fingers crossed.

First Day of School

I laid in bed last night and scrolled through Facebook and looked at all of the adorable kids starting school. Gosh I hate Facebook sometimes. All the smiling children. Huge smiles or tears or whatever. New clothes. Videos of kids willingly walking to the bus. Videos of kids talking about their new shoes or new backpack. Proud parents. Sad parents. So much excitement.

Cooper doesn’t care. I’m not entirely sure he even understands.

Last night, I told myself I wasn’t going to make a big deal over his first day. I wasn’t going to make a first day of kindergarten sign. And I for sure wasn’t going to put it on Facebook. I wasn’t going to make a big deal about it. Because, I was just doing it for myself. He wouldn’t care. And I knew it would be a fight. Getting the pictures would be impossible. I’d get stressed. He’d get stressed.

I kept thinking, ‘why do normal things for my autistic kid?‘ No one cares. He doesn’t care.

I woke up this morning and I felt terrible.

I felt like a terrible mother.

And I made the sign. And I took the dang pictures. And they turned out perfect. 66 tries and a package of Starburst can get you anything in this home. 🙂

He’s adorable. God he’s cute.

So why? Why do it?

I do it for me. I take these pictures for me. I throw the birthday parties for me. I pretend for me. I selfishly pretend that he is going to be OK….even just for a few pictures. I pretend that one day he will ask to see what he wore on his first day of school. I pretend that one day he will care.

My baby started kindergarten today. We did it. No need to pretend about that. And maybe it’s not a big deal to him. And maybe he doesn’t even know. But, I know. And maybe there is a cloud of sadness over all of it when there should be joy. And that’s okay too. Because, just like he doesn’t know he is starting kindergarten, he also knows no sadness. That parts on me.

I am the mom of a kindergartner. My baby is growing up. And that is why I made the damn sign.

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Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Because you’re never alone in the struggles you face. And once you find your people, your allies, your village….all the challenges and struggles will seem just a little bit easier. Welcome to our journey. You can also follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter.