I enrolled both boys in elementary school today. It was kindergarten enrollment day, so I got to fill out thirty minutes of paperwork for David to keep attending a school he already goes to. Go figure.
The bigger event of this morning was going to Drew's speech IEP. If you aren't familiar with that term, IEP stands for individual education plan. After working with our school system, videotaping Drew and waiting, I have gotten him speech services.
Today's meeting was to sign off on his speech goals. And fill out the paperwork for him to be an "itinerant" student. I have sat in on tons of IEP's and signed my name by the "classroom teacher" line. This morning, David's teacher signed by that space and I initialed and signed on all the "parent" lines.
I am so thankful for nice people. The guidance counselor, school psychologist and speech pathologist were all wonderful. See, what I didn't realize when I was teaching was that when it comes to your own kid, especially when they are being flagged as having a problem, it's real easy to get emotional. I kept it together, but there were a few times, when I felt my throat get choked up. When the speech pathologist read about Drew being above average academically and on target socially and emotionally I started to feel the sting of tears. Thank goodness he has those tools. And when she read that if left untreated his stuttering may affect his interpersonal relationships I wanted to cry. But I didn't. It pains me to think of my kid who has so much to say unable to say it at times. So much so, that when other people bring up the stuttering I get pretty prickly.
My biggest lesson that I have taken from this is that you don't really know how something feels unless you have gone through it. As a teacher, I would have seen this as very minor. A speed bump. A hiccup. As a parent, this morning was huge. It was the last step in getting Drew help in becoming more fluent in his speech.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
He picked a good day to be bad
Lucky for Drew I just started reading "The Ways of Boys.". It was in that little new release section of the library that we pass by before checking out our books. I think this section is especially for harried moms. I was a tad disappointed that there wasn't any chick lit. out that I hadn't read, but I figured I was due a parenting book.
So anyway, this book talks about the impulsivity of boys along with addressing their competitiveness and wiggelieness. I haven't finished it but so far It has been helpful and much of what it says rings true for my very male household.
Today, David came and found me and casually mentioned that Drew had just peed on the living room floor. I walk into the living room to find Drew scrubbing a spot on the carpet with the bathroom hand towel. "Mom, I peed on the floor."
"Well, finish cleaning it and go to your room, come out when you can apologize and tell me what you did wrong."
Exactly thirty seconds later, "Mom, sorry I peed on the floor. I should pee in the toilet."
I know it probably sounds bizarre that I didn't beat his bottom, but Drew seemed every bit as puzzled as David and I on why he urinated like a bad puppy. I think he was just playing around in his underwear and airing things out (seen him do that before) and just started pottying. The floor was barely damp, we were having a great day, and I saw no reason to ruin it over something relatively minor, I mean Keith and I had a friend in college who would forget where the bathroom was from time to time in the wee hours of a Saturday night and heck, we still hung out with him. You just had to point it out to him the next day and he would take care of the damage.
In other news, I had to take my car in to the shop to get my side view mirror put back on, I have accidents from time to time too. This one stemmed from being in too much of a hurry backing out of the garage. David was with me and picture the scuzziest auto body shop waiting room you can. Plastic couches, sun faded pictures from the early nineties, grease stained carpet and the smell of gasoline and stale coffee. David didn't see any of that. He sniffed appreciatively as we walked in, "Oh, diesel, thanks for bringing me to a place with my favorite smell." Really?! Then, of course, he had to use the bathroom. And he started opening drawers to reveal shaving cream and razors, I am trying not to even let my body touch the walls and he is exclaming, "Wow! Looks like someone lives here!". Thankfully, Keith and Drew came to get us.
So anyway, this book talks about the impulsivity of boys along with addressing their competitiveness and wiggelieness. I haven't finished it but so far It has been helpful and much of what it says rings true for my very male household.
Today, David came and found me and casually mentioned that Drew had just peed on the living room floor. I walk into the living room to find Drew scrubbing a spot on the carpet with the bathroom hand towel. "Mom, I peed on the floor."
"Well, finish cleaning it and go to your room, come out when you can apologize and tell me what you did wrong."
Exactly thirty seconds later, "Mom, sorry I peed on the floor. I should pee in the toilet."
I know it probably sounds bizarre that I didn't beat his bottom, but Drew seemed every bit as puzzled as David and I on why he urinated like a bad puppy. I think he was just playing around in his underwear and airing things out (seen him do that before) and just started pottying. The floor was barely damp, we were having a great day, and I saw no reason to ruin it over something relatively minor, I mean Keith and I had a friend in college who would forget where the bathroom was from time to time in the wee hours of a Saturday night and heck, we still hung out with him. You just had to point it out to him the next day and he would take care of the damage.
In other news, I had to take my car in to the shop to get my side view mirror put back on, I have accidents from time to time too. This one stemmed from being in too much of a hurry backing out of the garage. David was with me and picture the scuzziest auto body shop waiting room you can. Plastic couches, sun faded pictures from the early nineties, grease stained carpet and the smell of gasoline and stale coffee. David didn't see any of that. He sniffed appreciatively as we walked in, "Oh, diesel, thanks for bringing me to a place with my favorite smell." Really?! Then, of course, he had to use the bathroom. And he started opening drawers to reveal shaving cream and razors, I am trying not to even let my body touch the walls and he is exclaming, "Wow! Looks like someone lives here!". Thankfully, Keith and Drew came to get us.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Imaginations
David got a small toy rabbit from his Mimi. He named it Funny Bunny and has told us that he has to take care of him because his dad got hit by a truck and his mom is on vacation. Sometimes David changes the story slightly and both of Funny Bunny's parents have been hit by a car. David is really into a few stuffed animals and making little beds for them and taking care of them, so I am trying not to let Funny Bunny's woes disturb me.
Drew has a book on the Canada Lynx that we have been reading him. He picks the book out for us to read to him but then starts staring really hard at the photographs asking if they eat people or if they would, "chew on his bones.". No Drew, they are probably afraid of humans and furthermore, you are much bigger. (A Canada Lynx is about thirty seven pounds, so Drew has a good five pounds on these cats.). Then, because he still looks a little sleepy and worried, and for good measure, I tell him that our German shepherd would never let anything hurt her little boys.
I sometimes imagine the worst too. For instance, Drew's asthma and allergies are pretty bad right now. The pollen alerts on the trees he is allergic too are on high. So, Drew is wheezy and sneezy. I have been so worried that his teachers would think he was sick even though I had explained to them the situation. Luckily, I have a few voices of reason too. I was obsessing over it and my cousin stopped me in my tracks. "Natalie, do you think Drew is the first preschooler they have had with seasonal allergies?! He is fine!"
Drew has a book on the Canada Lynx that we have been reading him. He picks the book out for us to read to him but then starts staring really hard at the photographs asking if they eat people or if they would, "chew on his bones.". No Drew, they are probably afraid of humans and furthermore, you are much bigger. (A Canada Lynx is about thirty seven pounds, so Drew has a good five pounds on these cats.). Then, because he still looks a little sleepy and worried, and for good measure, I tell him that our German shepherd would never let anything hurt her little boys.
I sometimes imagine the worst too. For instance, Drew's asthma and allergies are pretty bad right now. The pollen alerts on the trees he is allergic too are on high. So, Drew is wheezy and sneezy. I have been so worried that his teachers would think he was sick even though I had explained to them the situation. Luckily, I have a few voices of reason too. I was obsessing over it and my cousin stopped me in my tracks. "Natalie, do you think Drew is the first preschooler they have had with seasonal allergies?! He is fine!"
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