It is the time of year that we love and we hate. Another year going back to school. I always think of that Office Depot commercial where the mom and dad are zooming up and down the aisle picking up new school supplies singing, "It's the most wonderful time of the world." It always makes me giggle. But the beginning of school can be a fairly apprehensive time for both parents and kids when a program changes, or nothing has changed from the bad year before.
Will this school year be better for your child? How have you worked over the summer to help your child become more successful at school?
Around our house, we have been pretty busy these last couple of weeks. School for us starts on Thursday. For the first time, Liam has been completely interested in shopping for school supplies and picking out new clothes. He made sure we got some deodorant and hair gel. He is starting to share some of his own goals in life and is apparently dying to become a teenager (I suspect that he thinks teenagers have superpowers that normal humans don't possess based on our discussions.) He wants a locker. He wants a girlfriend. He wants to work at McDonalds and make French Fries and went so far as to ask for an application. He told me the other day he wants to work hard so that when he is 21 he can go on a plane without his parents to New York City. He can't wait to see his friends David and Keith.
And he has no idea just yet that his entire school program was obliterated 3 weeks ago and that he will go to a new school. His dad and I are working to get the dust settled before we send him packing to a brand new environment all the way across town. If it winds up being a bigger, better deal for him in the long run, we find a way to handle it.
School isn't just about arithmetic and reading. School is a chance for your child to learn about life, the universe and everything. Parents need to be involved to make their child's program a success and work with the schools to make it as individualized as possible. If you have extra time to volunteer in the schools, do it! Not every parent can get down to the school on a regular basis but you can give back to the programs and help everyone's kids in the process.
As active as I am, I didn't realize how much there was to an IEP until about 18 months ago. I wasn't really sure how to navigate the school system. If you can't get to a workshop or conference, pick up a copy of Pete & Pam Wright's From Emotions to Advocacy. Read it and study it. It made a huge difference in our lives and I highly recommend it.
Connect with your school...for your kids,
Shelley Hendrix Reynolds
Unlocking Autism