End of the Year for Cha-cha

Today was Cha-cha's last day of school for the 2012-2013 School Year.  He had a fantastic teacher who will be retiring in October. She has been great for him and we will miss her.

Getting ready to hand Cha-cha his portfolio.

I thought we were making good time, but we walked in as everyone was already sitting down in their chairs.  Cha-cha froze and wouldn't leave my side, even when his super nice para came over to walk him to his seat.  So I went with him and sat behind him, where he spent most of his time turned around staring at me, grabbing my hand, or looking at the floor.

Singing the See You Later, Alligator Song - I don't even know if he moved his lips.

He refused to do his job - the honor of cutting the last paper chain down to symbolize the last day of school. Something he's been waiting for now for weeks now. Instead, he let his good friend cut it for him. I'm very grateful to the sweet little girl for being his friend.

\

Eating his watermelon. 

He participated in washing his hands, snack (although he sat by himself because there were no more chairs at the table), and two rhythm stick songs, in which he yelled out to his teacher after the first one, "We do other one!" She smiled at him and continued to the second song.

His Self Portrait from September (Left) and June (Right).

So in all, it was very bittersweet.  I'm so proud of our boy for making so much progress, however it was so noticeable today that his anxiety gets the better of him in large, social situations.  It was also noticeable that he's not where the other kids are in terms of his speech and language, especially with his cadence and pronunciation.  He's come a long, long way, but he still has a tough road ahead of him.  Seeing him with his peers showed me how "different" he is than all of them and it's so hard to accept that. I'm grateful for a wonderful parent of a former student of mine and a coworker who took the time to just let me cry and listen to me when I got back to my work.

He will get there; we will just have to take different, longer paths to get there.

As we left his school, Cha-cha asked in his garble, "I get my end of the school year prize tonight?" to which my former student's parent let me know that comment is completely age appropriate, which gave me a chuckle. ;)  

Tonight, when Cha-cha was going to bed, I told him, "Are you happy that today was your last day of school?"

He responded joyfully, "Yeth, now I get to pway width aw my to-oyz." (Yes, now I get to play with all my toys).  Typical 4 year old response, right? ;)

We haven't told him he goes back in 2 weeks for summer school...eeek!

May 7th - Teachers

Day 7 of Better Hearing and Speech Month

Teachers

Today is Teacher Appreciation Day! As a teacher myself, this day does not go unnoticed. With the upswing of Pinterest and Social Media, it's hard not to know that it's today or what sort of cool craft moms will put together for their child's teacher. When I first started teaching 12 or so years ago, it wasn't really a big deal, but over the years, I've seen parents and administrators increase awareness and say, "Thanks."

I come from a family of teachers and "helping" professions. My mom is a high school art teacher, my mother-in-law is a former elementary school librarian and Kindergarten assistant, one of my sisters is in nursing, while my other sister is a social worker and studying to be a nurse, and my sister in law is a special education assistant in a preschool. Teachers are helpers, but we are human too. We make mistakes and we do our best to service all children-some of us do it better than others, but unlike what my daughter thinks, we don't go into this profession to make kids' lives miserable. ;)

My children have had incredible teachers. From the start with daycare providers, they have helped mold and shape where our children are today. My children become a part of them, because they give a part of themselves to my children.  I may not always agree with their style or approach, but I know my children are better people for having these wonderful people in their lives.

Bee-bee's teacher this year is fantastic.  She's a little old school with a dry sense of humor, but I still remember Bee-bee's first day of 1st grade this year, when she came home raving about Mrs. H - she said, "She's awesome!  She's funny, nice and fair." I took that as a great compliment towards her teacher.  Bee-bee also loves her specialists and even the lunch/recess monitor Mrs. S.  This year has been a little tough for Bee-bee recently due to some anxiety about school, but her teacher is being very proactive and helpful, and for that we are very grateful.

Cha-cha has been with his current teacher since last Spring.  She is also a little old school and is retiring this year, but she has a fantastic way about her with special needs children.  She's very animated and provides a safe and nurturing environment for the children.  I feel she's asked to do a whole lot with minimal support, and the way she manages it is impressive.  Cha-cha also adores his classroom paraprofessional and often talks fondly of Ms. S.  He also has a school PT who he enjoys spending time with and he's been getting to know a new SLP after his old one walked out in December.  He has a fantastic at home daycare provider that started out as Bee-bee's when she was 9 months old and now Cha-cha has the opportunity to be with Ms. W.  Her calming demeanor and relaxed way about her is a perfect match for Cha-cha.  I feel very blessed that both have had an opportunity to spend time with her.

This week, I was talking to my friend about her job in the corporate world and about how feedback is a main motivator for her job.  She talked about how a client gave positive feedback to her bosses and how one of them didn't share it with her and how it hurt her feelings that she had to hear it from another person and wasn't appropriately recognized for it.  She told me how positive feedback is a huge motivating factor in the corporate world.  Yes, I get a few thank yous from my students and positive feedback from my coworkers, and occasionally my principal will stop by and give feedback on a lesson or situation, but rarely do parents take the time to write a handwritten note of thanks or appreciation.  Let me tell you, when I do get a note, I cherish it.  It means a lot to me that a parent appreciates what I'm doing with their child.

So during this day or this week, when you get a chance, write your child's teacher a note.  Tell them thank you for their efforts. It doesn't need to be a big pinterest creation, but your kind and uplifting words may help them get through the day or the week. ;) Remember, these people spend up to 30+ hours a week with your child (elementary classroom teachers do at least).  They have a very good sense of who your child is and what your child's potential can be.  Being a teacher is not an easy job, but we do it because we love the children and the people we work with and sometimes, it's really nice to get that note of appreciation and recognition for what we do.

We made it through the last day...

I don't think I've cried this much in a long time.  Maybe the last time I did was when we found out that Cha-cha had Apraxia and SPD, however I think I took that easier than I did seeing him enter his new school and seeing exactly what he needs to have in order to be successful.  Seeing the structure and the prompts, seeing the visual pieces of the day, watching the routines - it's going to be a tough transition for him.  Thankfully, a lot of the things will be repetitive from his old school and he will be in good hands and he will be getting the support that he needs.

Hearing that your child has a disability or that he's not neurotypical is tough to swallow - but seeing what it's going to look like in an academic setting (especially when you're a teacher) is a whole different experience.  Yes, he's come so far, but he has a long way to go.  It's another grieving process.  We didn't make it to Italy; we made it to Holland and we're going to enjoy it and make the best out of it that we can.

We have a week until the next big day - however before that we need to say goodbye to EI.  Tuesday is going to be another toughie, but we'll get through it.  I'm planning on scheduling a massage for me this week, and tonight is date night with hubby - and there is a frozen Snickers in the freezer. ;)

Last Day

The week before vacation is always a hectic week at work.  Kids' bodies are longing for a break from school, just as much as the teachers are.  It's a time of wrapping up projects, assessments, and getting things ready to start new units when we return.  I do my best to put my best face forward and keep the kids learning and content until break.  It's not always easy, but today's laughter in my classroom 5 minutes before the call for busses, let me know that I'm doing my best.  It's been a good distraction to what's going on with my own kiddo. 

Tomorrow is Cha-cha's last day at his current daycare.  He's been there since he was 6 months old and I just don't know how tomorrow is going to pan out.  We went today and picked out gifts for his teacher and the director and he looked up at me and asked me, "Why?"  I told him that it's time for him to go to a big boy school and get to take a school bus and go to Miss Wendy's (our beloved at home daycare provider that cared for Bee-bee until she was 3 1/2 years old) - he smiled and said, "I go skoo ba?".  I then told him that he won't be going back to Sprouts, he knelt down on the ground and he cried - big, fat tears.  We bought cupcakes and I let him pick 3 different types because at that point, I couldn't continue to argue with him. 

Tomorrow morning, we take him to see his new school.  We'll see his new teacher, we will try to work out all the logistics, and after the orientation, hubby will drop him off for his last day and we'll both to work.  Cha-cha will bring books to give the school as a thank you, cupcakes to eat with his friends, and the gifts he picked out for his teachers.  When I go to pick him up at the end of the day, we'll say good-bye...I keep saying it's going to be a good thing.  It's true, I can't keep up the stamina of all these therapies, work, and home.  Having them done at school with just two outside therapies is going to give us more time - which is always precious when you're a working mom.

We'll make it through the day.  We have a week off and then we'll set off on our new adventure.

First Day of School for Little Man

Little Man's first day of school was delayed by Hurricane Irene, so today was his first day.  I was so happy I met with his teachers last week to touch base with them about his diagnoses and therapies.  They were extremely accommodating and put my mind at ease.  Of course, this didn't stop me from being emotional and sad today.  Last night I wrote up all of his words/approximations and he has 27! not including 7 names.  Back at his appointment at the big hospital in the city, he only had 7 and one name.  So he tripled his "words" in roughly 8 weeks!!!! (I put "words" in quotes because they are approximations and you have to know him very well to understand what he's trying to say - tripling his "words" doesn't mean he is "fixed" - it just means he has been working very hard to make some of the sounds or parts of words.)

Something I was not expecting - this morning we got into the car and the first thing he did was point to the house and say, "Bee-bee?"  He must have been wondering where his big sister was and why she wasn't going to school with him.  They were in separate areas last year and saw each other periodically throughout the day, but he's really attached to her.  It will be interesting to see how he does as the year carries on.

Drop off was a little hairy - all the teachers coming in to drop their kids off the first day and drop off all of their kids things - diapers, wipes, meds, ketchup (Little Man's favorite food group), bed rolls, extra clothes - it makes for a little confusing drop off.  Thankfully tomorrow it will just be the lunch box. :)  He went right over and played with the cars and saw his friends.  His friend A came right over and said, "How r ya?"  Just melted my heart a little to see him reach out to Little Man.  I slowly made my way to the door and he looked back and he cried a little.  Thankfully his teacher swooped him up and I made my way out the door.  By the time I drove out of the parking lot, he was back playing with his friends.

According to his teachers he had a great day!  He decorated his folder, played with his friends, he hung close by the teachers when they were outside - but he still had fun, he ate and napped and had a huge hug for me when I picked him up.  He must be still excited from his day, as he has been in bed since 7:30pm and now at 9:30pm he is still in his room wide awake...

Here are a few pictures of his day today:

Not sure of this...

Putting Stickers on the Folder

This isn't so bad...

Playing cars with A :)

Let's hope Bee-bee's 1st day of Kindergarten goes just as well! :)