168 Days

168 days.

1008 hours.

60,480 minutes.

3,628,800 seconds.

That's the time I fought the battle with Mr. Needy before he finally lost his mind and had the final fit that was the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back" and he stayed home the rest of the school year.

I spent many of those days begging for help only to be told there was nothing that could be done. I watched as 23 other children basically lost a whole year of their educational lives with my hands tied because of one child and "his rights".

One child who clearly needed help and despite the best efforts of some really wonderful people who did everything they could to support me and Mr. Needy, we clearly failed.

53 days.

That's how long his current teacher had to wait to get some relief. What did she do that I clearly wasn't able to do? Or who did she know?

Dunno but I know that she and her class must be relieved.

A couple of weeks ago I went to a training that was attended by Mr. Needy's new principal. She came over to say hello and asked me why we put up with the behavior all year. I could only shake my head and tell her that I had asked that question too many times to count. (I was secretly satisfied to know that his fits continued so they couldn't be blamed on me or the school any longer - although somehow I'm sure they are). Needless to say with 5 days of that conversation he was no longer a problem at that school.

I will spare you the details that I have learned but I do know that he is clearly a child who is begging for his mother's love and attention and until he consistently receives them both I doubt his behavior will change.

I wish his current class and teacher the best of luck.

And really I do hope that finally he can get some of the help that he so desperately needs.