My beloved little Destructo, with a watchful mama peeking over his shoulder. Taken with my not-very-smart phone that always comes in handy for entertaining the kids with pictures.This past week has been so wrapped up in sorting out all my emotions about Destructo's IEP and the impending move and how those two will affect each other; I am left thoughtful and a bit brooding. I do not wear this particular set of emotions well.... I can remember making a conscious decision to stop journaling in the past because thinking about everything too much just makes me depressed! I don't want to be too deep all the time!! I like to keep it light and steer clear of the all the emotional heavy lifting that has been going on here lately. ;-) Now, now, before you get all worked up about that; you KNOW that I do a lot of thinking, you KNOW that I love meaningful conversation, you also KNOW that I love to gossip and talk about current events and basically act like a man. I can't help myself!
Despite my disinclination to explore the dark places, we have come to some decisions. We are going to wait and see what we can make happen on this trip to the UK that Daddy-007 and I are taking in April. If we don't find a place and/or get some great answers to our questions regarding the schools then Daddy-007 will go to England solo for the first semester of school. It is unimaginable how I will hold it together with the three boys on my own, but it would only be for a few months. I am optimistic that I will get over there, though, and everything will just fall into place and the Furious Five will be off on the adventure of a lifetime!
I'd like to say a special Thank You to all the great comments and supportive notes and emails about the IEP, the reality of schools and kids, and that the most important thing for Destructo is our parental love. I really think that everything is going to be amazing with our move, but the demons definitely had me last week! It is also a beautiful thing that Braja is back home in Mayapur and resting up so she take up her World (Wide Web) Domination again soon. Check out her new post!
Ever wonder how Thousand Word Thursday started? Check out the fabulous site, Cheaper than Therapy (and then go check out TheMomJen's new review site Therapeutic).
When I read 'despite the fact i don't like to explore dark places...' I thought you were referring to England! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get some great answers about schools and stuff... I know we are very strange, but we do have kids with similar problems there too... and, contrary to popular belief, there are some good schools there too.
Hope you find the answers you're looking for!
That is a gorgeous picture! Really paints a smile on my face! Just look at your eyeball, Amy! Look at it! Look at it!
ReplyDeleteLOL
I know what you mean when you say you don't wear a particular set of emotions well. There are just these certain emotions that...like ugly, hideous, ill-fitted clothes...just don't make us look or feel good!
I've learned that the best way to deal with all of it is to just sit in front of a window and cry. At first, the tears will come and your heart will feel wrenched. Then before long, your ADD will kick in as you look out the window and you'll be saying "Oh look at that woman's hideous top! It doesn't even match her umbrella!" And the next thing you know...you're fine!
Cheers! :)
Changes are ineveitable...my advice is NOT to worry about any of it...focus on moving forward, and trust that everything will work out the way it is intended...It will be fine, and everyone will be fine too!!
ReplyDeleteLadyFi: Oh, no! I don't think that the English are Neanderthals or anything... it is just the fear of the unknown and the reality that ADHD is still misunderstood by so many people (I, too, thought it was just an excuse for bad behavior before my kid was diagnosed with it, I am sad to admit). And I do have high hopes for finding a great school that will run the boys in various sports clubs until they can barely stay up until 7:30 bedtime! :)
ReplyDeleteCharity: THAT truly made me laugh out loud! Because it is so true! :) (It must be this damn Adderall that I started taking that is making me concentrate so hard on all this.)
What a cute picture, my kids are fascinated by the camera on my phone too. I hear you on the IEP ... I've got my son's coming up this april (he's got autism) and thanks to all of the budget cuts I am DREADING it!
ReplyDeleteWow...great picture and enlightening story. Good luck in your endevours....I'm sure it'll work out whatever you choose. You're a great mommy!
ReplyDeletehope everything works out for all of you - cute pic!
ReplyDeletethe joys of parenting. i hope everything falls in to place for you. you will make the right decision, no matter what it is. have a safe trip and good luck.
ReplyDeleteHe is a handsome young chap! You are so blessed with CC, Destructo and Le Animal. well & 007 as well. I know it will all workout for you and them. I have to believe that, because if it does not I do not know what I can believe in.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're able to find the answers you need about the move.
ReplyDeleteI think too much also. It's so annoying.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it IS annoying!! LMAO! :D
ReplyDeleteI haven't read your past posts so I don't know what's up with the IEP but as a special education teacher let me tell you that you are your baby's number 1 advocate. I can tell from the pic that he has a wonderful mommy in his corner...keep it up!
ReplyDeleteListen sister: You can do it. If you think about it, most moms are single moms whether they are married or not b/c we do a lot of the decision making and often dad is working and it's up to us anyway.
ReplyDeleteWe are all here for you. I do have a suggestion, take it or leave it, maybe it might help to see a therapist or someone once or twice to talk with about how to help your kid handle the move. Maybe he/she can provide you with some knowledge as to what to be aware of and what you might expect to happen and then if it does you don't have to worry b/c you will know what to do.
That being said, my mom is a therapist and I am a big believer in the whole idea as it has helped me so much in the past both with myself and how I deal with Phoebe. Also, I am Jewish and it is something I have to do no matter what.
Just a thought
Destructo looks purly angelic, I hope you work through the IEP and placement in the best possible way. My heart can't imagine how you feel, but I know you'll find the right fit for him.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to add my two cents in here on this post but as a former teacher who has been on the other side of the IEP table - The routines you speak of in the previous posts are indeed important but so is having your whole family together. Kids are resilient, even those, especially those, with special needs because they have to be. Taking care of the kids alone will allow you less time to focus on Destructo.
ReplyDeleteI just hope you find a way to keep you all together. As I have learned from my "pond hopping" sisters, Europe is years ahead of us... they will certainly have the ability to help Destructo.
Best of luck.
Cute picture! I hope you figure out everything you need to so you can make those important decisions. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYou seem like you are handling all this upheaval in a very rational manner. I would be a frazzled mess ;-)
ReplyDeleteI hope it all falls into place and I will be living vicariously through your big adventure!
thanks again for the FB help :-)
carma
all you can do is take it one day at a time.. don't worry over what you CAN'T control.. and concentrate on the things you CAN control. (not too much though, you'll drive yourself nuts.
ReplyDeleteI am heading to braja's now.. nice to see she has started again.
You Can Do It! (stupid line from The Water Boy, which I will never get out of my head).
ReplyDeleteThose dark places are scary, for sure - just turn the flashlight on those monsters. Yeah, I know - easier said than done. I wish I had something more useful to say.
My little guy loves the camera phone too. All the toys I lug around to entertain him with, and none of them work as well as that.
ReplyDeleteIt will all work out, Amy. Get on that first plane with your husband. You'll be happy you did!
ReplyDeleteHe's so cute! IEPs are sadly a necessary evil! I HATE THEM and STRESS over them from the second they are scheduled; HOWEVER, I always feel so much better when they are done. My stepson is in an amazing program this year and it was worth all THREE IEP meetings I went to within 5 months. Oh that sucked! Wouldn't change it for the world though because he is so much better off! I know how you are feeling about your meeting and I hope you feel better once it is over!
ReplyDeleteJust to let you know, NO IEP is final so if you feel changes need to be done later then fight for them!!
ReplyDeleteMy husband's brother wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until he was 10. I remember him running around barefoot and hanging upside down in a tree during our wedding speeches.
ReplyDeleteamy...first thing...I thought you said you really meant it this time that you wouldn't reply to us here in your comments section...lol! How long did that resolution last? A day? Ha ha hah a!
ReplyDeleteGo off the adderall! Live in the beauty of being an ADDer! You'll be able to "window cry" and everything will be all right again!