It’s been 12 weeks since all of us really started this quarantine and social distancing. 12 weeks since Iz has really, actively participated in society. 12 weeks since she has had to maneuver a social situation that I wasn’t a part of. 12 weeks since she had to answer to someone in authority other than Todd or myself. School has been online, Brad sessions are online, OT/SLP is online and she hates all of it. Online is cool if it’s Roblox or jackbox tv games…..online is ok with Brad, online sucks for school and OT/SLP. Many many many prayers for in person school in the fall and that it not look too different.

While she didn’t like elearning, she did well once we found the ticket to our routine…which was alarms on the phone. When the alarm went off, it was time to work. If you work fast (but accurate) you get to spend the time until the next alarm doing whatever makes you happy. It worked well. She made it through and is now a 7th grade! (Gulp)

Anxiety still exists in an existence of quarantine and self distancing though. Not her typical anxiety….but anxiety about those zoom calls, anxiety about having to wear a mask in public, anxiety about the new puppy we recently brought home. We brought Griffin home as a surprise for the kids. I never thought that he would cause Izzy such anxiety. She’s anxious about him pooping and peeing in the house and about his crying when we put him “home.” She’s getting more accustomed to him, but it’s been hard for her. Earlier this week (while I was at work) she wasn’t putting him out much and he pooped twice in front of the door…it was the end of her world! Yesterday she got him outside about hourly and so he had no accidents in the house! Progress.

She’s found some friends online. I know, it makes me cringe too. I listen to their calls and read their messages. They are legit kids. They are kids who make her laugh (and curse…she has such a potty mouth sometimes) and they play roblox together. I wish she had kids she could/would play with in person. Again, anxiety.

She’s made the decision several days of late to not take her meds. Some days that works out. Some days not so much. Meds are definitely needed to get her more easily through her days/nights. and to keep her from blowing up at us when we get home from work. We’ve had a couple doozies here of late. She can be so mean. Mixing hormones in with mental health issues is toxic some days. And parenting that combo is challenging at best.

Hair pulling is fierce again. We don’t talk about it, there’s nothing I can really say that I haven’t said in the past 18mos and none of it really helps her. She shaves her head frequently, but I often times see remnants of a pulling session in the sink.

She’s ambivalent on Jackson’s impending departure at this point. I know she really has no idea what life will be like with him at college. But I’m calling it now, she’s gonna miss the heck out of him! 10 weeks until he heads out.

This corona virus period has been a time of mixed blessings and challenges for everyone. I am hopeful it hasn’t pushed her backwards too much in terms of her social skills and anxiety. Only time will tell. 12 weeks down, 8 to go before she hopefully steps back into the classroom, the classroom that doesn’t look too different.