Round 10,000 with children's mental health

[swellmomma]

Ds had his first appt with a new shrink today. This one is smart enough to acknowledge we need to do a whole new assessment before giving meds. FOr years the ones we saw wanted to just medicate without updating assessments done when he was 6. So he is now on the list for a 3 week inpatient assessment in the children's psych ward of the hospital (same place dd was last summer, and he was in when he was 5 turning 6). The plan is to get him in for Sept, so that if he needs a residential program we have time to get him in fairly close to the start of the school year. The Shrink feels that a 6 month term in a residential program after this 3 week assessment may be what he needs to finally get some real help. Like the 3 week assessment, he would live at the location M-F with family night being 1 night a week, and come home on weekends. I am saddened that we have to resort to another hospitalization and possibly this residential program at all. THat I have not been able to do enough to help him on my own. But at the same time I am hoping that this time we will get some real answers and find a way to truly help him and maybe all he needs is 6 months of a program like that (he would do school in the mornings, followed by therapy- both group and one on one- social skills building etc in the afternoon, themed nights in the evening -movie night, bingo night, family night etc) in order for him to be successful at home and in the community long term. Still it hurts as a mother to anticipate sending him off like that for any length of time.

 

Now it makes it hard to plan for our homeschooling, because I don't know if he is simply missing 3 weeks or most of the year. Typically dd and ds work together on 1/2-3/4 of their work, but I guess now I have to plan to teach them separately and repeat material I have covered with her, with him when he is home kwim. Kind of a pain for me, but again if this is what he needs I will find a way to make it work.

[lmrich]

:grouphug: I can't imagine how hard it is for you to the right thing for your child. The schooling part will come together; I wouldn't worry about that. :grouphug:

[Caitilin]

:grouphug: I hope things work out the best way possible.:grouphug:

[Nakia]

Have I ever told you how much I admire you? You are clearly a wonderful mother and so devoted to your children. I hope and pray he gets the help he needs. Maybe this 6 month hospitalization would be the answer to so many prayers. :grouphug:

[MariannNOVA]

:grouphug::grouphug: You are doing the right thing -- I know how difficult it is. School will work out. Hang in there.:grouphug::grouphug:

[Ottakee]

As hard as this is to hear, it does sound like you have a good pdoc who is really going to help you and figure things out. Obviously he sees the need for this as they don't just put kids into these programs on a whim.

 

This just might be what you need to get him started on a path of stability.

[Rosie_0801]

:grouphug:

 

Rosie