Carrie Link

OUTDOOR SCHOOL

In Oregon we have a very cool thing called Outdoor School. For one week, sixth graders get a week-long field trip with their teacher, adults and high school counselors, and a life-changing experience.

Outdoor School is not new - both STM and I went when we were in 6th grade - and for thousands of kids it's their favorite week of their entire grade school experience.

Sleeping bags, bunk beds, campfire, songs, communal meals, occasional showers, and some big time bonding, are all highlights of Outdoor School, and for those kids that fidget and endure year after year of sitting at a desk, for one week they are free, free, gloriously free.

For some kids this week away is full of firsts - first sleepover, first time away from home, first camping trip, first taste of well-supervised independence.

For some kids therapy is required first to ready the child for all those firsts that hit at the very same time.

For some kids it's taken in stride and parents simply drop their kids off at the bus stop on Sunday and pick them back up on Friday (Woohoo, for example).

And then there's Rojo.

Certainly Outdoor School has been accommodated to meet the needs of thousands of special needs students through the years, but those are other people's children. Not. Mine.

In his 12+ years of life he has never slept anywhere other than our house, or a grandparent's house.

He doesn't shower - he bathes, with a lot of help, in about 3 inches of water and only after he's been 6 rooms away from the sound of the running water.

He doesn't eat "regular" food, at regular times. Right now he pretty much only eats Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal at 5:00 AM and 5:00 PM. That might actually work, since who can't be talked into pouring him a bowl of cereal and splashing on some milk? But Outdoor School isn't until April, and by then he could be back on garlic toast, which is labor-intensive and very, very stinky.

He has certain TV shows, which watching is imperative to his state of well-being. "Nanny 911" on Tuesdays at 4:00 - we nearly get a speeding ticket each week making it back from getting Woohoo, in time for that one. And what about "Drake & Josh," "Praise the Lord," and "iCarly?" Huh? What about those? Do they show THOSE at Outdoor School? No. I don't think so.

So clearly, this won't work.

But each day he comes home a little more excited about Outdoor School, with a little bit more information, and a little bit more buy in.

And each day my heart breaks a little bit more.

My greatest fear has always been that he will never live independently.

Now it's that he might.