Houston . . . We have a Problem!: Hostage Negotiations

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Hostage Negotiations - Type 1 Diabetes and Kindergarten

11:35 AM

I started this post back in August when Nate started kindergarten. I didn't really get further than the title and some brief research on hostage negotiations. Why hostage negotiations? Well, during the entire first 6 weeks Nate struggled with school, with bg checks at school, had major meltdowns and started crying every morning before we even left the house for school. I'm not sure I can adequately describe how completely awful it was.

I wanted to do the right thing for him, for me and for his teachers. I asked for advice here and on FB and received so much conflicting advice that it was completely overwhelming. Should I stay with him at school? Just go up there when it is time to check his bg? Just go up when it is time to bolus? Not go up at all and make him be a the big boy I know he can be?

I felt like if I did or said the wrong thing this could impact him and the way he feels about school and diabetes for the rest of his life.

I did actually google hostage negotiations because I felt like those people have to make split second decisions that obviously impact people for the rest of their lives.

A little dramatic? Meh . . . maybe but I felt completely overwhelmed by Nate's behavior and really didn't want to damage him for the rest of his life (more so that I probably already have!).

The one thing that stuck in my head from a FB friend and person with diabetes (PWD) was that some things are negotiable and some things are not. Checking your bg is non-negotiable. Going to school is non-negotiable. That's where I started. I told Nate those 2 things and tried to help him by going to the school to check his bg and bolus for lunch. That didn't work. Nate had so many things going on in his little kindergarten noodle . . .

Separation anxiety, diabetes anxiety, the fear of having someone he didn't know checking his bg, fear of someone besides me giving him insulin, a new school, a long day, new friends, so many unknown that were made worse by fluctuating blood sugar levels because I had no idea where to start with school basals!

When Shay wrote the following statement to me, I don't think any of us knew just how accurate it would be:

Monday, Nate starts kindergarten and everything will NOT be all right. It will be a stressful, fucked up, bloody nightmare. Literally - there will be blood. There will be tears; yours and his and possibly innocent bystander's. There will be panic attacks, yelling, second guesses, sleeplessness (more so than usual), and Tommy Lee Jones may be there to announce, "we have a runner; search every out house, farm house, and locker." If, by chance, Nate makes it to his class, you may get the call that he has taught everyone a few new choice words like - oh I don't know - holy shitballs, for instance.

Nate literally would run out of class, he would kick and scream, he would cry, he clung so tightly to me that I could not get him off of me. At one point, I had gone to the school to help with his lunch bolus and he threw such a crazy fit that I had to run and hide in the office from him and watch 2 teachers, the vice principal and school counselor carry him down the hall kicking and screaming. I looked at that child with a blank stare, as teared were rolling down my face, I literally did not know who that boy was at that moment. That is not the way Nate behaves and I had no idea what to do. I told the staff that his bg levels were at a safe range and to please treat him the same as they would any other student that was behaving that way. So, they did. I got a call about 15 minutes later from the VP to let me know that he had calmed down and he wanted her to send me a picture of him playing with play doh and behaving. What a relief that was for me.

Isn't he freaking adorable? He's so stinking cute, he's my only boy and he's my baby. I couldn't help it --- all of this school drama broke my heart. I cried a lot. I cried when he cried, I cried when he didn't cry and I cried because I just didn't want him to cry anymore!! Sweet, sweet boy!!

We tried a lot of different things throughout the first 6 weeks to get him comfortable and happy at school. What worked for us may or may not work for you, you may think I am the worst mom ever or the best one on the planet . . . . your life, your kid, and your diabetes may vary!

Nate had to check his sugar. That was not negotiable. He made the choice to do it himself and not let the nurse do it. That worked for me and it worked for him. I think it gave him a little bit of control that he needed to feel more comfortable with all of the changes going on.

If he threw a tantrum and refused to go into class (sometimes this could take up to 10 minutes) then he would lose privileges. If he couldn't act like a big boy and make big boy choices then he would lose his big boy privileges. He lost his iPad a few times and he thought that was the end of the world!

Ian started taking him to school. Part of the problem was separation anxiety from me so he seemed to do a little bit better each day when Ian took him. He still cried and had to be reminded to make big boy choices but this was the beginning of big changes for Nate.

We did a lot of positive reinforcement. If/when he made the choice to go into class and make good choices he was rewarded by us and by his teacher. There were days that he refused to take his backpack off all day. Gradually it started coming off earlier and earlier and he was rewarded for his good choice. He now goes into class, removes his backpack and starts the day with a smile!!

His teacher is amazing! She is so patient! She also kept the communication with us open with daily emails, text messages and morning updates when Ian dropped Nate off. She was a huge part of him getting over this hump!

Nate actually loves school now although he won't admit it. When I am there he hardly acknowledges me and will certainly not give me any hugs or kisses. He's made new friends and really seems to enjoy learning!

This was certainly one of the harder things we've had to deal with since his diagnosis and I did at times think things would NEVER get better but they did. They always do.

Tough times don't last . . . tough people do!!

Nate is one tough little dude!

Labels:Back to School,Diabetes,Kindergarten,Super Nate,Type 1 Diabetes

11 comments:

Joanne said...

Just reading this post gave me anxiety... I don't know how you did it! But I knew that if anyone could, it would be you. Great job!

November 3, 2013 at 11:47 AM

Anonymous said...

Awesome! Go mama! You rocked it!

November 3, 2013 at 12:54 PM

Penny said...

You are awesome, Nate is awesome and so is Ian. <3

November 3, 2013 at 2:26 PM

Kelly said...

So true! Tough times wont always last but D Mommas are tougher! I CANT IMAGINE having to go through all those emotions! As always you did great :)

Man, I cant believe my Maddison was this age once with Diabetes....it gets easier (in some ways) I promise you! Seems when they are little little its alot harder on our hearts :(

November 3, 2013 at 2:39 PM

Sara said...

You did it (both of you)!!

I laughed a little when you said the "first six weeks". I used to work at a college and they would drill into us how important the first six weeks are. If a student makes it through that time it is highly likely they will stick with it and make it through the rest of the year. I bet it's the same for kindergarten! :P

November 3, 2013 at 4:38 PM

Meri said...

You never cease to impress me!

You are a warrior! Love you!

November 3, 2013 at 8:16 PM

Heidi / D-Tales said...

Hooray!!! Great job, mama!

I suspect this post is going to help a lot of others whose kiddos are having a tough time adjusting to kinder. :)

November 3, 2013 at 10:26 PM

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh, this brought be back. My son, who is now in the 5th grade, had the hardest time going to Kindergarten. Our problem started when a lunch aide told the class that if they didn't line up fast enough they would be left outside. That's all my son needed to hear, that he might be left outside without an adult, and that shook him to his core. It took months for him to settle in, and he finally did. It was not our best year, but we did it, we survived, and sometimes that has to be good enough. All the years since have been amazing. He surprises me every day with his strength, his grace, his everything he is as he handles this disease like a boss. Good luck for the rest of the year!

November 4, 2013 at 5:13 AM

Lora said...

Laura! That is amazing that you mentally survived all of that! I have had a totally different experience with Willie and I don't know if I could have handled what you did. Of course, I guess we all handle what we have to, like it or not. My point is, I am so relieved and happy that you were able to stay strong. I hope that Nate will continue to make progress and most of all, be happy. Isn't that what we want for our babies? You're doing a stupendous job!!!

November 8, 2013 at 9:51 PM

Unknown said...

Laura,

I have been following your blog for quite some time now and have tried to comment on some of your posts but for one reason or another they haven't gone through.

I just wanted to say thank you for verbalizing the challenges that we have as D1 moms in such a great way. I am often brought to tears by your posts because my T1 son, who is now 5, was diagnosed at 18 months. It seems we battle T1 challenges on a parallel level. My son started Kindergarten in August and we went through the same things! I actually at one point went to the principal in tears saying " who is this kid, this is not my son." Thank you again for writing and, without knowing it, providing support.

-Kelly In California

January 6, 2014 at 6:55 PM

Unknown said...

January 6, 2014 at 6:55 PM