The troubling transition

Mr. Adventure was re-leveled as Specialized (that's the 3rd level out of the 4 level system).  We were so relieved to find a facility that accepted him on Dec 15th.  This new facility only takes kids that are his level and the one higher, so they are well trained on handling his behaviors. 

We were blessed to have friends willing to help us with our other kids while we made the transition with Mr. Adventure.  We arrived has his Basic care facility and found out that they had not told him anything about the move.  He is a kid with PTSD, Anxiety disorder, & multiple behavioral diagnoses.......he does not handle unexpected change very well.  So, needless to say, this went down hill quickly.  The staff was just beginning to pack his belongings, while other staff was trying to put together the discharge paperwork, while still more staff went to pick him up from school after we arrived.  They knew the day and time we were coming and had originally agreed to have all of this done beforehand. 

I also started getting calls (while trying to get things together at the facility) from his school asking if I knew he was being un-enrolled.  All of this lead to a stressful situation on top of an already difficult situation ~ we were there, picking up our child that was being kicked out of a facility, taking him to a more intense facility.  It wasn't exactly a happy little reunion.  As expected, Mr. Adventure did not handle it well when we arrived at the facility and we told him what was going on.  His immediate reaction was to scream, kick, stomp, brace to run (which My Hero quickly intercepted).  He got so out of control that My Hero took him out to our car while I finished the paperwork.  In the car, My Hero stood outside the open door and listened to Mr. Adventure scream about how much he hates us and wishes he would never see us again....for an hour!  

My Hero is the only person that Mr. Adventure respects and cooperated with consistently before going to this Basic care facility.  Since being there, Mr. Adventure has grown unaccustomed to cooperating with anyone, so he was less responsive than usual to My Hero.  Usually, the level of no-nonsense interactions that they have gives Mr. Adventure the awareness that his tantrums, rages, and other manipulating behaviors will not get him anywhere.  He calms down, listens, and follows directions when My Hero interacts with him.  It is My Hero's Marine training and directness that creates this environment between them.  It is not a huggy, lovey interaction....it is what we have found is necessary to give Mr. Adventure the security he needs to know that everything is under control, that he doesn't have to question what is about to happen, and that there is no need to worry about what is expected...it is very clear & he responds well to this....usually. 

However, the stress of this situation was tough.  After some drama with the staff, we finally were on our way to the new facility.  Mr. Adventure calmed down and the next 5 hours in the car went smoothly.  We spent one night in a hotel before our admission appointment the next morning. 

By the time we arrived on the new campus, Mr. Adventure was excited to be there.  He happily took the tour of the facility while we completed the paperwork.  He waved and said good-bye when it was time for us to go...and he skipped back inside while we drove away.