Hip Hop and Head Colds

     I enrolled Zack in a dance class called Move and Groove.  Yes, it's a Hip Hop class!  It's a great way for Zack to get exercise, and he actually has some talent in being able to remember choreography.  I had enrolled him in a similar class several years ago, but had to pull him out.  The teacher was very soft spoken, so Zack couldn't hear anything she said.  And, there were too many kids in the class.  At that time, Zack wasn't very good at knowing how to stay in his "space" and he would bump into the other kids.  The other kids were getting angry with him.  I didn't think it was important enough to stick it out, so I bailed.  Zack said he didn't mind.
     Now, Zack is so much better at judging where his personal space is and where the other person's space is.  Plus, the teacher is excellent.  I haven't told her that he is autistic.  I was going to, but there were already other kids sitting with her when we entered the room, so I just decided to let it go and see what happens.  I usually feel it is a good idea to tell the teacher right away, so that she isn't surprised by Zack's strange comments, or by his immaturity, or by his anxiety.  It's one of the reasons why I dread signing Zack up for a class, because I worry about the conversation I need to have with the instructor:  "Zack has autism, but he's really high functioning.  He has a lot of language, but he gets easily confused.  You may have to repeat instructions.  He sometimes speaks out of turn and will talk about seemingly irrelevant topics....."  It's not that I mind advocating for him, it just makes me feel uncomfortable.  I don't know how the teacher is going to respond.  I've always been a shy person, just wanting to fit in, not wanting to cause any problems for anybody.  Having a child with autism has forced me to come out of my comfort zone and speak up.  It has gotten easier, but it is still stressful. 

     We didn't do school today.  Zack has come down with a cold.  Bless his heart, he was willing to take his Algebra test, but he looked so miserable.  He got about half-way through, and I told him he should go back to bed.  This is one of the reasons why I decided to home school.  When Zack was in kindergarten, he got sick every month.  He would have a cold for three weeks, be healthy for one week and then start the cycle all over again.  I'm the type of mom, that if my child is sick, I do not want him to be around other people, especially other kids.  One time, I kept him out of school for four days because he had a fever and the school nurse called me to see if she could help.  She couldn't understand why I was keeping him out for so many days.  I don't believe in medicating with over-the-counter drugs to get through an illness.  I let the body heal itself with the help of herbs and homeopathy.  It takes however long it takes, but the healing is more effective.  (But that's another blog, I guess.)  Anyway, it's nice to be at home where Zack can do work if he feels up to it, even if he's sneezing and coughing.  And, if he's too sick to work, he can make it up on a Saturday down the road.  He doesn't get others sick, he can heal at his own pace, and he doesn't get behind in his academics.  It's a win-win-win!