The Storm and then the Rainbow

A professional situation that I've been struggling with since the late fall, and that has, in particular, weighed on me since January, finally erupted into a full on storm today. This child has always been on the strange side, but there was a change after the winter holiday, and his behavior and comments went from strange to frightening. I've been seeking (begging!) for help since January. 2 weeks ago, something occurred that caught other's attention. But his parents still resisted my concerns. FINALLY, today, it came out that something "very serious incident" occurred with this child around January (HA! Who knew???)

One of the people I went to for help, back in January, was the one to deliver the news today. She acts as if she should receive a blue ribbon for figuring this out when I have been saying for no less than 5 months, that "something serious has happened." I was furious. Furious with the other professionals I went to for help, who brushed off my concerns, and furious at the parents who brushed off my concerns over and over again, to the point where they stopped communicating with me because they didn't want to hear what I had to say. I went into my classroom after school and erupted in the presence of two other teachers. I wanted to throw something, I wanted to cry. So many months lost because my voice was not heard. And the person must hurt by this is that child who has deteriorated to the point where he has, mentally, checked out of reality.

The rainbow in all this? Better late than never. While I'm not permitted to know what this "something serious" is, he is now getting intensive counseling. This year has been lost for him, but hopefully counseling can help him move forward. A colleague called me at home, later, to make sure that I was okay, and that I had gotten home safely. It's nice to have a work friend who will check up on you like that. And I went to the gym and ran for 30 minutes so I have had my mental cooldown now, too.

Despite the rainbows, I'm glad this day is over.