In Big School Now & Thinking Differently

Ria’s lack of focus continued to be a challenge. Even in her meetings with Dr.Kadam, she would begin to stare in space while conversing with her. Chandni would set a timer for Ria to do her homework, and promise an activity Ria liked after that, like craft. This tactic worked and Ria would do her homework with alacrity.

Although the counsellor had assured Chandni that a masi would be there near the bathroom to help small children if need be, Chandni taught Ria and her twin how to wash their bum after crapping.

They were quick to pick up, and Chandni breathed a sigh of relief. A big milestone had been achieved.

Sometimes Ria would feel left out when the other children played in the society. She would get territorial when they came over and played with her Barbie Dreamhouse. Often other children found her loud, or quarrelsome, and preferred to play among themselves.

Gradually, she made friends in school and in the building. She was still very attached to her twin. Social stories helped in reining her in. "Respect his personal space bubble," Chandni would say.

Chandni printed photos of Ria and her twin. She drew a circle around Ria’s twin, to indicate that was his personal social bubble, and Ria should not go too near him. Instead, she could find other ways to work off her energy, like jump, run, or fold her arms to avoid touching his cheeks.

Chandni had asked that the twins be put in separate sections at school, and that helped Ria make friends independently. Eventually, the two ate with their friends separately in the canteen as well.

Although Ria’s class teacher figured out she was hyperactive she was understanding and suggested that Chandni give a variety of dry fruits in tiffin, since Ria liked variety. In the parent teacher meetings during the year, she did tell Chandni that Ria would get anxious if Chandni mixed her folder up with her twin’s, so Chandni resolved to be more careful.

Ria’s class teacher made her a supervisor of monitors, channelling her tendency to correct others. Ria did well in academics, and came in the top 10 in school in the English and Math Olympiads.

Ria’s teacher even recommended her for giving a video testimonial on the primary section. Although Ria is loud at home, Chandni felt she was probably less loud at school.

Chandni found she had to regulate herself too, if she wanted Ria to be quieter. She learned if she talked calmly to Ria, she would react better. Chandni watched a documentary film on Temple Grandin on Netflix, and her slogan of 'Different but not less' resonated deeply with her.

One day, Ria asked, “Mama, the solution for the hero would be a problem for the villain, right?” Chandni had to agree, although she was certain no one would quite put it like that. Ria sure looked at the world differently.

 A tip that the therapist gave, which Chandni still uses, is keeping Ria’s brain engaged so that she doesn’t do mischief with her hands.

To be continued...

This post is a part of Blogchatter A2Z.