The Lodger and Us

I knew it was coming. I was prepared for the ocean of calmness we were in to come crashing down with the giant wave of a PWS moment.  Did I expect it that Monday? Not one bit. In all honesty, I’m not sure I ever expect it and my heart skips a beat when I get ‘the call’. Flight or fight mode kicks in. For me, it’s flight mode. I’ll take The Lodger home, wait until the PWS moment has passed, and we’ll talk things through quietly and calmly. Just once. We don’t dwell on it. A consequence is put in place and we move on.  We’re not used to meltdowns at home. So when they happen out in the world, I feel completely out of my depth.  I’m unpractised at this. I feel like a rookie. I try to remember everything I’ve read on how to handle a meltdown. Keep a calm voice tone, use positive language, don’t use too many words, don’t interrogate at the moment and keep breathing.  All easier said than done.  I read a book a while ago and I’ve rerea...

The Lodger has had one of those weeks were he just wasn’t himself. He was fine at home, but in school.... as another parent calls it he was having a lot,  infact, far too many PWS moments!  Some people call this the PWS monster but for us and our pirate obsessed, Captain Hook number one fan, I’m calling it the crocodile! It’s lurking there, waiting to snap! Tick tock tick tock...  Anxiety = challenging behaviour.  It’s PWS 101. There is always a reason and most importantly, it is never done on purpose by a person with PWS.  We had a meeting with his school team and we bounced some ideas around as to what could be causing the onset of challenging behaviour. It could have been a host of things or one thing or something that we haven’t even guessed...  It could be the change in school principal, he loved his old one It could be the leaving of a teacher on maternity leave who usually says Hello to him.  It could be the ...