A little different today

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The person whom I share students with will be gone all day. I will work with the afternoon kid all day. He is concerned because he knows I do not let him play with baby toys. He does not need to. I do let him do art projects and crafts. I have made an air drying clay for him to work with today. I do give him "fidgets" if he stresses too much. He looked at me yesterday, made a face, faked a tantrum and said loudly "You're mean to me!" when we talked about no Christmas Elf toys today. I looked at him, laughed, and said "I sure am". He could not keep up the pout but smiled widely and got back to work. At home the pouting, crying and saying "not fair" or "you are mean" gets him his way. Not with me and he knows it. At eleven years old, even with mental and behavioral challenges, he can do school work and follow instructions. He can do what is expected of him if we stick to our plan. He does get breaks. My system is "Do three "have to's" (school work) and you may do a "want to"(project. walk, etc.) Since I am with him all day he will get at least two chances to do "want to" items. So I am ready to pack my lunch, and my new clay, and go to work.