Can you tell which tooth is gone?
Friday, August 06, 2010
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
The Summer As We Saw It.
"Joey did great! He's had a great time! He's really adjusting! He's going to be fine."
You'd think these words would be comforting. I honestly believe they were intended as comforting. We sent my child to four weeks of summer programming- an excellent summer enrichment program, by the way- to try to transition him to a new school and new people. We knew it wasn't going to be a waltz through the tulips. However, what I saw was not encouraging.
What I usually see is a happy Joey pitching in and hamming it up, grinning to be in front of people and showing off, or at least showing off for Mommy. You get used to seeing Joey having fun doing stuff, even when he isn't the most perfect or graceful about it (well, to other people. To me, he looks absolutely wonderful.)
I am not used to seeing this:
He then had to have the teacher come get him from my arms, and go for a walk with the special ed teacher. Oh, he had earplugs in; but it was all too much. Too many people, too much noise, too much to try to coordinate and do. The other child you see the teacher working with? He didn't get ESY services in his IEP, he's there as a "regular" attendee. I could rant on about that from several different angles. Let's just stick to noting that Joey is unhappy, and bolting- something that occurred all of twice at school all of the previous school year, but was apparently a regular occurrence during the summer program, and certainly has become a regular enough occurrence here that we are considering upping the security on our doors (he's figured out the keys, and soon will figure out how to reach them). I had been thinking our parking hangtag was going to be obsolete by renewal time, now I'm thinking, no, we'll be renewing it- and that is still two years away. About the time we will be transitioning to the next new school.
I love hearing that Joey is doing great and fine and having fun. But it would sure be more convincing if we saw some evidence of truth in it.
You'd think these words would be comforting. I honestly believe they were intended as comforting. We sent my child to four weeks of summer programming- an excellent summer enrichment program, by the way- to try to transition him to a new school and new people. We knew it wasn't going to be a waltz through the tulips. However, what I saw was not encouraging.
What I usually see is a happy Joey pitching in and hamming it up, grinning to be in front of people and showing off, or at least showing off for Mommy. You get used to seeing Joey having fun doing stuff, even when he isn't the most perfect or graceful about it (well, to other people. To me, he looks absolutely wonderful.)
I am not used to seeing this:
He then had to have the teacher come get him from my arms, and go for a walk with the special ed teacher. Oh, he had earplugs in; but it was all too much. Too many people, too much noise, too much to try to coordinate and do. The other child you see the teacher working with? He didn't get ESY services in his IEP, he's there as a "regular" attendee. I could rant on about that from several different angles. Let's just stick to noting that Joey is unhappy, and bolting- something that occurred all of twice at school all of the previous school year, but was apparently a regular occurrence during the summer program, and certainly has become a regular enough occurrence here that we are considering upping the security on our doors (he's figured out the keys, and soon will figure out how to reach them). I had been thinking our parking hangtag was going to be obsolete by renewal time, now I'm thinking, no, we'll be renewing it- and that is still two years away. About the time we will be transitioning to the next new school.
I love hearing that Joey is doing great and fine and having fun. But it would sure be more convincing if we saw some evidence of truth in it.
Monday, August 02, 2010
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Beach Camp Week: In Preparation for the Real Thing
This week, I am thinking of doing a Beach Camp with the boys, since next week, we will be At the Beach. This might be tricky, since Joey has been something of a lump of anxious nerves since summer started, and part of the idea is to give him some structure. On the other hand, I need to limit expenses, as we need every dime we can put hands on to spend at the beach, since we will be there a whole week.
I thought the highlight of the week should be the Aquarium in Baltimore, but there are few roadblocks to this. For one, Joey has not been riding well in the car, and to ad to his anxiety, my van died. We're in a small neon right now. Two hours in a neon might not be good for the child's nerves. I also must consider he is facing a 4-hour trek to the beach in a week. For two, the aquarium is something of a love-hate thing for Joey. He loves the dolphins, the fish, the mirrors. He hates the dark and crowded parts. Do I risk adding anxiety in hopes that he will have a good time, in face of lots of new and exciting things in a week's time? On the other hand, it may be our chance for the summer to get up there. After we get back from the beach, Joey starts OT camp, and shortly thereafter my classes start. He has been saying he is interested in being a lifeguard, and he loves the dolphin show, and catching his interest might be worth the risk.
I also want to set up a schedule for the day, something I can put on paper and stick to. This is very difficult for us, as life is in constant flux, and things change quickly. I'd like for the days to go something like this:
7-8am: Rise and shine, get dressed and ready for the day.
8-9am: Breakfast
9-10:30 am: Mom works with grandma at the office. Boys get playtime or work on worksheets and reading.
10:30-10:45- Snacktime.
10:45-12:45: Pooltime. (Joey has swimming lesson at 11 on Fridays, so that would be covered).
12:45-2:00: lunch.
2:00-4:00 Camp Time!. (On Tuesdays, we have Speech Therapy at 2, and OT at 3-4, so this would be covered)
*** 2:00-2:30 Science Activity 1
***2:30-3:00 Craft Activity
***3:00-3:30 Science Activity 2
***3:30-4:00 Snack Activity
4:00-5:45- Pool Time.
5:45-6:30- Dinner
6:30-7:30- Boy Relaxation.
7:30- Time to start bedtime routines.
Now I just have to come up with all those activity things. I have some awesome science kits that Mom got for us, so if we don't have to stay too focused on a theme, we should do OK. I also have this odd feeling that I may need to clean my house- space and organization might be helpful. Fortunately, my summer classes are done, so I have a few minutes. After I set up the fall classes, of course, Yeeps. Oh, and Monday I have to stop by my college and turn in some paperwork. And then... and then...
Have activity suggestions? I'd love 'em! :)
I thought the highlight of the week should be the Aquarium in Baltimore, but there are few roadblocks to this. For one, Joey has not been riding well in the car, and to ad to his anxiety, my van died. We're in a small neon right now. Two hours in a neon might not be good for the child's nerves. I also must consider he is facing a 4-hour trek to the beach in a week. For two, the aquarium is something of a love-hate thing for Joey. He loves the dolphins, the fish, the mirrors. He hates the dark and crowded parts. Do I risk adding anxiety in hopes that he will have a good time, in face of lots of new and exciting things in a week's time? On the other hand, it may be our chance for the summer to get up there. After we get back from the beach, Joey starts OT camp, and shortly thereafter my classes start. He has been saying he is interested in being a lifeguard, and he loves the dolphin show, and catching his interest might be worth the risk.
I also want to set up a schedule for the day, something I can put on paper and stick to. This is very difficult for us, as life is in constant flux, and things change quickly. I'd like for the days to go something like this:
7-8am: Rise and shine, get dressed and ready for the day.
8-9am: Breakfast
9-10:30 am: Mom works with grandma at the office. Boys get playtime or work on worksheets and reading.
10:30-10:45- Snacktime.
10:45-12:45: Pooltime. (Joey has swimming lesson at 11 on Fridays, so that would be covered).
12:45-2:00: lunch.
2:00-4:00 Camp Time!. (On Tuesdays, we have Speech Therapy at 2, and OT at 3-4, so this would be covered)
*** 2:00-2:30 Science Activity 1
***2:30-3:00 Craft Activity
***3:00-3:30 Science Activity 2
***3:30-4:00 Snack Activity
4:00-5:45- Pool Time.
5:45-6:30- Dinner
6:30-7:30- Boy Relaxation.
7:30- Time to start bedtime routines.
Now I just have to come up with all those activity things. I have some awesome science kits that Mom got for us, so if we don't have to stay too focused on a theme, we should do OK. I also have this odd feeling that I may need to clean my house- space and organization might be helpful. Fortunately, my summer classes are done, so I have a few minutes. After I set up the fall classes, of course, Yeeps. Oh, and Monday I have to stop by my college and turn in some paperwork. And then... and then...
Have activity suggestions? I'd love 'em! :)
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