Today, Syafi will officially be a childcare student. Today is the beginning of a long day for Syafi He will start staying in school till 4pm instead of 1pm. Today I feel relieved yet anxious if he is able to stay beyond the 1pm mark. The past week and that 2 days in April before lockdown, I've been picking him up at 1pm. I kept reiterating that 4pm is the new pick up time the whole wkend & morning to him. I think it's more or less to remind myself on that change of timing too. This morning was especially hard on Syafi because it dawned on him that going to My First Skool will be a permanent thing till year end. It made him yearn to go back to MIJ. He was upset that there was no more long bus rides and train rides to MIJ. No MIJ Teachers to scream his name and welcome him with open arms & hugs. No MIJ adult students who calls his name and wave him good morning or hold his hands while riding up the lift to school. No classmates & teachers to celebrate him and his achievements whole heartedly as he completed tasks after tasks. I know he misses the love, affection, understanding and trust he received for the last 2 yrs and 3 months at MIJ. He was upset with the changes. No matter how pre-emptive I was with him, change is always hard. But I know he will persevere and move forward. Adaptive skills are hard on Syafi but with encouragement and finding out what would pique his interest, he will find ways to enjoy school. This is the beginning of your journey to socially integrate with the neuro-typical. May Allah SWT protect you always my little man. #syafiautismadventure continues with a Volume 2. #autismspectrumdisorder #autisticmuslim #autismsg #autismacceptance https://www.instagram.com/p/CBK4D0hhP1W/?igshid=54q5x9uztyxe