First post. I've decided to start journaling the many thoughts in my head. It's less crazy looking to write rather than to talk aloud to myself. I've been known to do this so many times that my husband doesn't even think twice when I'm blabbing away.
To start introductions: I'm a 36 year old SAHM of three very different boys ages 7 1/2, 6 and 2. Andrew, Nick and Sean. Andrew will be entering second grade and Nick first grade. Both boys have IEPs. What's an IEP you might say? It's short for an Individual Education Plan. IEPs are developed for children who have learning issues that need to be addressed through additional support.
Who is the Roller Coaster boy? That would be Andrew. Andrew receives in order: SSD education, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and ABA (otherwise known as Applied Behavioral Analysis). Current diagnoses: Learning delays, ADHD and tentatively a relatively new diagnosis, Non Verbal Learning Disability (and to further clarify children with this diagnosis are not and I repeat not verbal. They are very verbal, chatterbox to the nth degree).
Nicholas or Nick is the middle child and was recently diagnosed with more typical reading and writing disabilities. His IEP is not nearly cluttered as his brother's. Andrew will always win the Complicated Prize.
As to the title of this first post, school is now less than a month away. The Back to School signs are prominently displayed throughout the stores. Fall clothing commercials are coming at a fast pace. And Facebook is a flutter with Memes about Moms celebrating school's impending arrival. The poor teachers' posts are less cheerful.
I tend to side with the teachers. For parents of children with different educational needs, the beginning of school is very nerve wracking. I worry about transitioning issues. I worry about Andrew's new home room teacher and whether it'll be a great fit. We've so far had a teacher that fit him like peanut butter and jelly and another who viewed Andrew as a human version of a cyclone. With Andrew's ADHD (otherwise known as Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder), the beginning of school means that he's back on his ADHD medication. Great for helping focus, sucks for the side effects (no appetite, tics, increased anxiety). I will write a separate post on this later. I worry about possible regression. Basically a crap ton of worries. I'll edge out by September but August is a long month. And now I have another kid to worry about.
The benefit of Andrew's issues is that often he's blissfully unaware of the fact that he's behind the class and that he spends most time out of his general education classroom. On the other hand, Nick does not have that luxury. He is becoming acutely aware that he can't read when most of his friends can and he is nervous on how it looks that he will be pulled out of the classroom. I've talked to him about how lots of kids who learn different, how he'll get to be with cool older kids in his smaller remedial groups. That tend to produce a weak smile. But for a self conscious small child, my words are just that- words. So I worry about that as well.
To wrap up, most parents have big grins and feelings of excitement for that first day. But for some of us, the smile tends to be more forced. Luckily, my kids are at a great school with loving people. And once the initial fears are allayed, our true smiles come, just a little later.
