Survived
We made it through Caroline's IEP meeting. I have exactly 47 minutes until I have to pick her up from Mother's Day Out. . . so I have to make this quick. I want to accomplish a few other things before going to get her (including figuring out what I'm making for dinner tonight!) so this will be brief.
Basically, her school loves her. We knew that. We are quite fond of them, too.
She (according to the standardized test) is scoring at a pretty much 2 year - 7-9 month level. Again -- standardized tests. Skills that *they* (testing scrutiny people) say she cannot do -- we see her do.
The physical therapist was there -- she has two concerns. We need to address one; the other is being addressed.
1) Caroline's feet are flat. (Thanks, Grandpa!) When she's barefoot, she tends to roll her feet inward, and go flat. I'm going to call the Pediatrician's office today, and get her an appointment to have him look at her feet -- and give a referral to get some sort of inserts made for her shoes. I am not going to be "nazi" mom -- and make her wear them with flip-flops. But, she will wear them with tennis shoes--and with any other shoes that encase her foot.
2) Caroline is sedentary, therefore her gross motor skills are not where they should be.
Yep, she's my daughter. She prefers to sit and a book about playing outside, rather than actually playing outside. And, when she *is* playing outside, she's usually sitting down -- watching her brother.
Her new swingset that will be put together over the weekend will help, some. Dance classes will also help. Those should begin in a few weeks.
The PT suggested swimming lessons for her. Good exercise plus a necessary life skill. Need to research that. She also suggested engaging her in more active play -- getting her to *stand* to do things, rather than sitting down.
Mark and I both agree that our lives are sedentary. Our hobbies pretty much *require* that we sit. So, we're going to try and change some of these things. No, I am not going to run the Boston Marathon next spring. But, we can -- and we NEED to get more active as a family.
The PT was pretty encouraging. She said that Caroline follows visual cues, rather that following directions with no verbal cues. I agree (sort of). I can tell her, "Go get Baby Sophie out of your room." And, without pointing, looking at, or directing her to her room, she can follow those instructions. . .when she wants to.
And there's the part we all laughed about, but it was hard for me to grapple with--and it's still hard for me to even type it out. Caroline does things on her timetable and agenda. When she wants to do something, great. If she's not interested, we get that sweet little, "No." And, she attempts to blow us off and do something else.
So, many of the skills they were trying to assess in her for these assessments (sorry for the redundancy) were difficult to measure because she simply didn't want to do what they wanted her to do.
You might be expecting me to draw some great philosophical, spiritual parallel here. I could. I'm just simply not in a good emotional place to do that right now. But, I think you can see where I would head, if I chose that road.
So, figuring out how to motivate Caroline to do tasks, without bribery or manipulation is going to be my next "project." I'm assuming that prayer will be a HUGE part of this undertaking. Bringing out the best in our children is always difficult -- even with the best of kids. We're finding that Edison's mood swings (if you want to call them that) are just typical 13-year old behaviors in boys. He isn't intentionally hateful (and really isn't hateful much of the time), but his moodiness and sullenness reflect the changes he's going through. His ability to be clingy and almost childlike in needing affection (hugs, etc) and then be unapproachable and hermit-like --- well, to be honest, that's driving me nuts. But, I understand it's all about change and adapting.
Yeah--that's me. I've got a preschooler with learning/emotional and developmental issues, and a teenager going through puberty.
Truly, my friends, this is the life I always dreamed of.
Actually. . . it is. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
Basically, her school loves her. We knew that. We are quite fond of them, too.
She (according to the standardized test) is scoring at a pretty much 2 year - 7-9 month level. Again -- standardized tests. Skills that *they* (testing scrutiny people) say she cannot do -- we see her do.
The physical therapist was there -- she has two concerns. We need to address one; the other is being addressed.
1) Caroline's feet are flat. (Thanks, Grandpa!) When she's barefoot, she tends to roll her feet inward, and go flat. I'm going to call the Pediatrician's office today, and get her an appointment to have him look at her feet -- and give a referral to get some sort of inserts made for her shoes. I am not going to be "nazi" mom -- and make her wear them with flip-flops. But, she will wear them with tennis shoes--and with any other shoes that encase her foot.
2) Caroline is sedentary, therefore her gross motor skills are not where they should be.
Yep, she's my daughter. She prefers to sit and a book about playing outside, rather than actually playing outside. And, when she *is* playing outside, she's usually sitting down -- watching her brother.
Her new swingset that will be put together over the weekend will help, some. Dance classes will also help. Those should begin in a few weeks.
The PT suggested swimming lessons for her. Good exercise plus a necessary life skill. Need to research that. She also suggested engaging her in more active play -- getting her to *stand* to do things, rather than sitting down.
Mark and I both agree that our lives are sedentary. Our hobbies pretty much *require* that we sit. So, we're going to try and change some of these things. No, I am not going to run the Boston Marathon next spring. But, we can -- and we NEED to get more active as a family.
The PT was pretty encouraging. She said that Caroline follows visual cues, rather that following directions with no verbal cues. I agree (sort of). I can tell her, "Go get Baby Sophie out of your room." And, without pointing, looking at, or directing her to her room, she can follow those instructions. . .when she wants to.
And there's the part we all laughed about, but it was hard for me to grapple with--and it's still hard for me to even type it out. Caroline does things on her timetable and agenda. When she wants to do something, great. If she's not interested, we get that sweet little, "No." And, she attempts to blow us off and do something else.
So, many of the skills they were trying to assess in her for these assessments (sorry for the redundancy) were difficult to measure because she simply didn't want to do what they wanted her to do.
You might be expecting me to draw some great philosophical, spiritual parallel here. I could. I'm just simply not in a good emotional place to do that right now. But, I think you can see where I would head, if I chose that road.
So, figuring out how to motivate Caroline to do tasks, without bribery or manipulation is going to be my next "project." I'm assuming that prayer will be a HUGE part of this undertaking. Bringing out the best in our children is always difficult -- even with the best of kids. We're finding that Edison's mood swings (if you want to call them that) are just typical 13-year old behaviors in boys. He isn't intentionally hateful (and really isn't hateful much of the time), but his moodiness and sullenness reflect the changes he's going through. His ability to be clingy and almost childlike in needing affection (hugs, etc) and then be unapproachable and hermit-like --- well, to be honest, that's driving me nuts. But, I understand it's all about change and adapting.
Yeah--that's me. I've got a preschooler with learning/emotional and developmental issues, and a teenager going through puberty.
Truly, my friends, this is the life I always dreamed of.
Actually. . . it is. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
posted by Angie at 1:13 PM
6 Comments:
Your life is beautiful, Angie.
As far as the IEP is concerned...in terms of the "Standardized Tests," you know your daughter. You know what she is capable of and what she does.
Those tests, piss me off.
Sorry, strong language, I know. But those tests make good parents feel inadequate, and that is unacceptable to me.
Your doing great, Mama!
So is Caroline.
I am going to forward advise to you that was given to me at the beginning of this school year. Don't take the tests too seriously. (When we received Kaylea's TCAP scores from last year they weren't where they should have been. She was an all A student that was scoring in the 50% percentile in almost all subjects).
Now, as for the flat feet. Kaylea was diagnosed with pronated ankles when she was 6 and we took her to a specialist in Knoxville. He told us to not worry about inserts until either her foot quit growing or she began experiencing some type of discomfort. As of yet, we have yet to need the inserts. We will pray that you get just as good news!
Lastly, yes Caroline does things on her own schedule. Don't all three year olds?
Just keep your chin up; do all you can do; say lots of prayers; and count your blessings.
I agree with the other two comments.
Hang in there.
Hey, you could have at least 6 other kiddos smack in the middle of those two. Wouldn't that be fun? LoL
Your doing great.
YOU are beautiful!
I'll add little Caroline to my prayers. And Boy and Girl Child will add her to theirs.
Message received on swingset assembly.
And yes, sometimes it IS all about me. I have that in common with my favorite niece.
my head is still so full and i am in so much pain so i didnt read too carefully adn will come back and read more, but as usual not reading does not stop from making a comment, jenni katherine and mary had orthotics... so we live with that... and there is ballet whihc i tell you will make those muscles like steel
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