Life's Twists and Turns

So, what do I say, except I sort of blew it for my daughter. Not completely, but enough that I feel like I failed. I searched so hard for a school who would accept her. I spent so many breaths insisting I would be the best one-on-one for her. Of 'course, right? I mean I know her so well. I understand her medical issues better than anyone. I know her communication. I know her abilities. I know what she's been through. I know what she is capable of. I am the one who can get her to do things when no one else can. Of 'course I would be the best assistant for her, right? Wrong....

Perhaps if things had gone differently; like if Boss Lady had allowed Alexis to attend the Montessori school. Ideally, we would have had a month to prepare. Alexis would have been able to attend the first day of school, instead of jumping in to an entirely new situation three months into it. The district would have had to hire an assistant for her. They could have payed me until they found someone else who was qualified. I would not have been so stressed about how I was going to keep a roof over our heads or gas in the car, and I would have been more relaxed while at school. The Montessori was experienced in how to help my daughter succeed. They would have been able to train me in how to be a school assistant while I trained them how to care for and understand Alexis. Our request was not overwhelming for them like it is at the Catholic school where we are all just fumbling along trying to figure out how to do what is best for the child. To top it off I am tired. I've been exhausted ever since the Salt Lake district said they didn't believe in Alexis' abilities. I literally have not had a break since January 2015. Even oxen, apparently, need to rest after six days of plowing the field lest they get sick and die. 

Whatever though, eh? Life is what it is, and what it is now for us is doing Alexis' core studies at home, because I didn't get along better with her teacher. I still get to take her to school three afternoons for religion, art, and music with another teacher who I do get along with. It averages just over an hour a day. Oh boy!!! I think I am realizing a reason why I have been faced with such resistance to what I am trying to do for Alexis. What I think is common sense, may not be. I've been around people with disabilities for all 45 years of my life. Maybe I have a natural insight others don't. And maybe I wasn't as patient with the teacher as I should have been. 

However, all is not lost. I have a really great curriculum for guidance, and Alexis is making leaps and bounds with me as her instructor. We'll see where she is when summer comes to a close, at which time the school and I will talk about whether we will give the classroom a try again, and, if so, which grade. 

Want to know a funny irony? I got Alexis' test scores back. Keep in mind she only had three months of kindergarten prior to taking this national test when it should have been her sixth month. Yet regardless, in addition to finishing the test within the allotted time frame for typical kids, she also scored on target for kindergarten academics. As to the irony? The Catholic school has a solid history of their kindergarteners testing out at a 1st or 2nd grade level; so, I finally get my child up to a typical grade, and she still doesn't pass, because of the school's high standards. Funny, huh?

To top it all off, I think I want to embark upon creating a K-12 school...aiy, yai, yai...good grief...please pray for us!

Namaste!

--angie