Last night was a celebration to honor our outgoing Governor. My husband had RSVPed for us back before I had the plague (ok, it's not quite the plague, but it's a really nasty cough). I went to the doctor who basically told me "it's going arond- expect the cough to last 3-4 weeks, your lungs sound clear". So, while the cough is annoying, I opted to go to the event. We chatted and had some cocktails and then grabbed some food and sat for the speeches. Though I was well armed with cough drops and a few glasses of water, I still coughed (as quietly as possible) throughout the evening. While we listened to the speeches, I tried to stifle my cough and wait for the clapping to really let loose. At some point during the evening, I realized that what I was going through trying to hold back my cough and let go during the clapping when it wouldn't bother other people is what Liam must go through all the time with his ticks. It was really hard to focus on what was being said while I was concentrating on trying not to cough. It was also hard to try to let out little gently coughs while the speeches were going on and not just really cough hard and get it out. With my chat with the bus driver still weighing on my mind, I thought again about how hard it must be for him to get through a day in his classroom, and then the long bus ride home.
Today, Liam's principal called. I really like her a lot, and while I must admit a call from your child's principal is daunting, it did not put me at all on the defensive because I know that she wants what is best for my son. She told me that the bus driver had submitted a report about Liam's ticks. She said that she would usually bring a child into her office to gently discuss their behavior when that happens, but because of Liam's diagnosis, she wanted to talk to me first. I told her that I was so happy that she'd called and before about a week ago, I had no idea that Liam was even ticking on the bus. I explained that I only found out when I heard him squealing as he got off the bus and saw the bus driver bristle and roll her eyes. I told the principal that at that point I asked the bus driver if Liam had explained that he has TS. I also let his principal know that the bus driver had told me that the younger kids were yelling at him to stop. I explained to her that I had offered to drive Liam to and from school, but that he hated the idea and loves the bus. I also explained that the other kids yelling at him actually escalates the ticks and that what I thought would be best was an education component for the younger kids on the bus (not to mention the bus driver).
Her response was so kind, and she said that she agreed and felt that it was important to not make Liam feel at all like he was being punished and that she would work on trying to figure out a way to make sure the other children understand. She also felt that if Liam enjoyed riding the bus, he should be allowed to continue with doing so. I offered to come in and give a presentation if need be. We'll see where it goes, but I'm going into the situation with high hopes.
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