Today we went to the Mental Health Center at 9:30 a.m. and were there until 1:30 p.m. We were interviewed by a new therapist for Play Therapy so the boys can learn and improve social skills, and hopefully learn more skills on dealing with anger. The interview was supposed to be an hour long for each child and ended up taking us a little longer (as usual).

One day a week they will be seeing a therapist, both seperately, and then together, then they will each spend about two hours a week in separate age related groups for activities. I signed them up for evey activity available, except water skiing, and down hill skiing. They've never done either of those and I felt that they were just a little to dangerous for the boys. Most of the outdoor activities on the list were activities we've done as a family, swimming, hiking, bicycling, canoing, rock climbing, ice skating as well as a host of others.

There will also be indoor activities such as roller skating, inline skating, bowling, etc. The plan is to take them on these little adventures with a small group, which would seem to be normal play to most other kids, and correct inappropriate behaviors as they crop up. One of the goals is for the boys to follow directions within two prompts.

We are waiting for a call back for them to be interviewed by the staff psychologist. Hopefully they will do that both separately, and then together, also. The cool thing about it all was that we were all allowed to be in the office while each of us was being interviewed, and we were treated as a family unit, instead of separate and individually. The boys were allowed to play with legos and bionicles while waiting for their turn to answer questions.

We went through two stacks of papers for each boy answering questions on physical health as well as mental health. I was given a number for any emergencies that we may run into such as the boys wandering off etc. and the staff will work with emergency services when it comes to anything dealing with the boys. Which was a great relief for me. I have always had to be the only one who had to deal with these people in the past, and it is one of the most horrible experiences any parent would ever go through.

By the time we were done the boys were starving, as they had been so excited over the propsect of play therapy, that they woke up at 2 a.m. and had only had a snack in all that time before going to the office at 9:30 am., The activities co-ordinator took us upstairs to a small kitchen and the boys were allowed to make themselves each a hot pocket and a cup of herbal tea. When we got home thier little tummies were full and being so exhausted we all fell asleep. I'm not looking forward to them waking up. I got out some eggs and am ready to make them if they do, because I know they'll be hungry again.

Now that I've woken up again I'm going to have to find the paperwork that I was given and post the emergency number by the phone. I was so tired when I got home I just put everything down and have no idea where i put it. Then I'm going to have to start a new file, it's a good thing I bought another expandable file folder as the one we have been using is full to the point that it's hard to close.