Hi everyone! My name is Samantha.


My almost 7 year old son was just recently diagnosed with SPD. I am looking for ideas, information and support as I begin to homeschool him. Just last week I formally withdrew him from public school. In Preschool and Kindergarten he struggled. However, when he began first grade this year it got worse and worse. He was being bullied (He is sensory seeking so he was teased about playing with a little girl's hair, hugging other boys, putting things in his mouth etc.) He was also separating himself from classroom activities. His teacher told me that he spent almost 90% of his day, every day, alone in the corner reading books, walking around the classroom fidgeting with things etc. He just was not involved in the activities and was not getting anything positive out of school. He was already seeing OT and Speech therapists at school twice a week. But, I felt that there was something more there. That's when I brought him into the dr. to get a referral to a psychologist so we could get some answers. In the end, he was diagnosed with SPD - which I had NEVER heard of! I researched and researched over the next few days and the more I read the more horrible I felt. So many of his behaviors that we have scolded or punished him for were explained. Chewing on his shirts, picking gum or something else up off the ground and chewing on it, going into hysterics anytime we wanted to "treat" him and his siblings to a movie in the theater. I feel horrible for not recognizing these as signs earlier, and realizing that he may need these things. But, now that we know it is my chance to move forward and find what works for him and what helps him!
I have a meeting tomorrow with a teacher advisor to help me pick out a curriculum. I have NO IDEA what curriculum would work best for him and don't know where to start looking. I know we don't want a faith based curriculum and am definitely open to suggestions!

My son is so gifted in anything having to do with science. He LOVES the ocean, sharks, science in general. He loves the outdoors - fishing, hiking, climbing trees, riding bikes etc. He also loves to read.

In my spare time I enjoy reading, hiking, camping, fishing, shooting etc. I am in the process of writing a novel and my lifetime goal is to have a novel published. My husband and I also really enjoy playing video games when the kiddos go to bed I am passionate about politics and absolutely love studying history. Last year I received my college degree in Paralegal studies.

I look forward to getting to know you all and am so excited to be part of a group who can share stories and advice!

(09-29-2013, 10:12 PM)Dan Wrote: Hey, welcome to the site there Samantha! I must say, you and your son sound like you have some awesome personalities, hehe.

I can understand where you're coming from. It's horrible to find out that someone you love so much has a condition and worse, it's something you have been scolding him over in the past. But it's true, you didn't know back then! My parents didn't know much about my SPD and made all kinds of hurtful comments and suggestions to me over the years that had a big impact on me. It wasn't that they were bad parents. They really were trying. They just didn't understand it because there wasn't enough out there to really figure me out. We know so much more about SPD now.

So yeah, I also dealt with the bullying and the isolation. I was always the quiet kid in the corner off reading or doing something solitary and "out of sync" with the other children. Kids with SPD are different, and differences scare a lot of kids and adults who, though they may even be well-meaning, simply don't understand what's going on. It takes that big "a-ha!" or "holy crap, that's it!" moment to really make a big difference and flip your perspective completely upside down. I know that I certainly stopped scolding myself for stuff I couldn't control when I found out about my SPD, and I knew those around me who loved me would do the same once they knew about it.

You do the best you can with what you're given, and you seem to really be working on it, so I'm glad to hear that. I wish you the best in your endeavors to homeschool your child. I'm generally an advocate of homeschooling, especially when you can be a part of a network of parents and still make sure your son gets plenty of social interaction and group-work experiences. It's just so much more manageable and 'safer' for the more sensitive child who can face some real cruelties at the hands of other kids and overworked teachers in public schools. I have plenty of first-hand experience from my past, hah, though I was never homeschooled, unfortunately.

Well, I hope you find the support and community you were seeking here!

Oh, and wait... you write novels? Awesome! I've written a couple books myself and am always working on a story or a project of some sort. Getting a publisher is a real tricky part for sure, but there's also the ebook route to consider. I was able to release an ebook on Amazon last year without having to talk to anyone or pay any money.

I look forward to getting to know you. Welcome again!

(09-29-2013, 11:17 PM)LAC1961 Wrote: I don't homeschool (yet), but I've been saving this link in case I ever decide to. I read about it in an SPD blog about a year ago. It was recommended for kids with SPD. I'm not promoting it as I haven't researched it. Just passing it on as a possibility. I can totally relate to everything you wrote. I was in the same place a little over a year ago. Everyone on this site would say "get the guilt monster off your back." You're on the right track now. Hurray! Welcome to the family.
Link: http://curriculumexpress.com/curriculum-in-a-box.html