A Means To An End

Connors first week at school is going well. VERY WELL. In fact, his teacher told me that she wanted to use his aide to help the other children in the classroom from time to time since he is able to work well independently. GREAT! You bet! My aide is your aide, at least until the money starts to run out and then we will talk about only having her there a half day at which point I will remind you of how you thought he was able to work without her. :)

A means to an end.....Mrs. G, Connors teacher told me how suprised she was that he fit in/worked so well with the other children. It wasn't at all what she thought it would be (uh-huh, I do recall mentioning that) and that she was so glad that she listened to Paulette who also said he would do well at this school (uh-huh I said that too). She felt that this school was absolutely the best fit for him hands down (uh-huh I definately recall saying that).  This is what I would like to have responded with: Yes Mrs.G he seems to really be doing well here, but I kind of had that figured out and consulted with his preschool teachers and director half a million times prior to signing him up here. You see, I feel I know him best. We have history. Heck, i've known him since he was concieved, we go way back. That and the fact that I am a stay at home mom and I with him practically 24/7. Share the aide? Why sure! Didn't you know that she is really here for your comfort? I knew that you would figure out that we didn't need her there 5 days a week 6 1/2 hours a day. In fact, most of the things that I have done were for your comfort level, the principals and the rest of the staff. You are smart people though and you will continue to learn from my son, just as I have. I can wait.

Paulette (my sons preschool director) is every bit the experienced professional. People SHOULD listen to her opionion. Thank God I did.I am grateful that  Mrs. G. did but some mean little part of me says that it would be nice to be credited with having some reliable input though and a brain. You know what? My son is doing well totally mainstreamed, ready to go to school, visably interested, participating with the others, and that is worth more that I can concieve of. Its all just a means to an end.

School Daze..........

Well...... here I am on the brink of Connors first day of Kindergarten. Tons of work since the beginning of February to get him into this school and here we finally are and I still believe it will all be worth it. He needs to be at that school in order to thrive. I know it. Don't ask me how, I just know it.

First of all I must give credit where credit is due. "Team Connor" (and you better believe its a team) is awesome this year. While it saddened me greatly to leave a fantastic program with teachers that were remarkable, his kindergarten teacher is special she was when my daughter was in her class, but lately I have come to see her in a new light. This lady was quick to step up to the plate when I asked her how she felt about Connor attending school there. She offered to observe him in his current program. She talked with his current teacher. She attended several meetings and an teacher inservice to learn more about the Autism Spectrum and how it related to my son. She has asked on many occasions what she might do to better accomodate him in the classroom. Does she have special needs certification of any kind? Nope and thats fine by me. I am not looking for special certification,I am looking for understanding, willingness to learn about my son and his ways and someone who is willing to get past Autism. My son is not the big scary monster, the word Autism is.  The principal at the school; young, naive, willing to try something new even when his plate is full as a new first time principal at our school. That makes him awesome in my book. To all the other teachers in the school who will be working with Connor and who took the time to attend the inservice; I also thank you for stepping up to the plate. Thank you for expressing your desire to help him succeed in this school. You will never know how much I appreciate it.

I just met Connors aide today. Sarah. Experienced, smart, a real workier bee. I was completely impressed that rather than have a firm plan on how she would work with Connor, she will let him take the lead. Really, does it get any better? 

So, if it all goes wrong, if the school plan falls all to pieces at least I will have these precious moments of hope that I have right now. Oh yeah, and that margarita in the fridge.............;)

Return to Wonderland

Well....what can I say. I took a little hiatus. I enjoyed the summer with my kids, took a few trips, generally lounged. What inspired my return? Well i'll tell you since you were wondering....... I read a new blog out there in the vast abyss of blogs. This one was special and quite thought provoking. This blog was about a little girl, Paloma, born 4 months ago with Downs Syndrome. Her mommy is my cousin.

  Its very difficult with some blogs because they so well written and I also because I can relate especially when it comes to having a child with special needs to not cry my ever-lovin eyes out. Boy, did I ever with this one. She and her husband experienced so much at their daughters birth that my husband and  I experienced 3 years down the road with my son. I cried because I know that she is at the beginning of a very long journey, one that holds no answers for the future, humbles you, yet reveals to you in a new way how very complex and wonderful life can be. It opens your mind like no mind altering drug could possibly do oh yes, and forces your mind to be creative to a degree that would rival that of DaVinci. Along the way no doubt she will meet some very ignorant  people. Ignorant because they aren't able to see what her daughter is able to do now and might do in the future. They will focus on what she isn't. When her mommy is able to gather her strength, she will fight for opportunities and understanding for her daughter. She will regret along the way, no doubt but she will find hope and laughter in situations when laughter and a positive disposition have gone right down the toilet.  I hope that she is as blessed as I have been. I hope that she will find those who see beyond the down's, those angels that walk the earth that help parents like us find our way. They are out there.

  So here's to you Paloma and April. You are on a long complicated journey girlfriends, but we are on it together.