School Camp! 😬

Lenis school year are off to camp and the number of emotions and feelings this brings to the surface for both of us is ridiculous.

When the note came home the first thing Leni said when he got in the car was mum I can’t go, and to be honest I thought the same thing, at least not without myself or hubby there.

Two nights away from us and sharing a cabin with other boys, I mean what could go wrong? Ssshhhh it’s a rhetorical question!

The dread I felt was awful. How would he cope without us? He wouldn’t. How would he settle at night without his normal routine? He won’t. How will he feel when he wakes up and realises I’m not there with his Brekky? Sad and Anxious.

At night Leni unwinds with his iPad. It’s his thing. He kicks back and watches his favourite YouTubers or plays a few games and whilst some people will cringe when they read this he also falls asleep with his iPad watching a movie. I know it’s not ideal but it is the only way his brain will stop and chill without any medication.

Then there is the morning. Will he wake everyone up? Will he drive everyone crazy until brekkie? The answer is quite simply yes so I’m worried that being away from his routine will make things difficult for him and everyone else.

I can’t imagine him in a cabin with 7 other boys, no iPad and no chill, lying in bed struggling to get to sleep. Oh god, just the thought of it gives me heart palpitations.

I emailed his teacher to ask if there was any chance either myself or hubby could tag along as additional supervision but the principal had already decided that no parents were allowed. Then I tried to find accomodation close by and couldn’t find any.

Fortunately Lenis teacher reached out the other day and we had a chat about my concerns and he invited me in one afternoon to write up a plan with Leni about how the school could assist us to make things easier for him.

The 3 of us sat down and after listening to my concerns which I’ve touched on above, he came up with some very workable solutions that involved Lenis buy in which made us all more comfortable.

When the meeting had finished and knowing that we had come up with a plan to make the camp more accessible for Leni we went home feeling much lighter and Leni finally excited.

I know that there is an expectation that schools will do this but not all schools do. We are so fortunate to have a school that is inclusive and Leni is lucky to have a teacher that doesn’t give up on him.

To know that I can now submit his permission form without worry or concern is an amazing feeling and what’s even better is that the fear I had initially of Leni missing out on these things because of his ADHD are for now gone and that’s an awesome feeling for a change.

It will be great if he gets through the camp as happy as a pig in mud and it will also be ok if he doesn’t and we have to go and pick him up (dibs not me) but at least he gave it a go and the school made it possible.

I know his teacher doesn’t read this blog or at least I don’t think he does but thank you. Thank you for doing your job and doing it well and thank you for making sure that Leni is not left behind. It’s teachers like you that will forever have an impact on his journey.