| I'm mentally exhausted & I really need your advice. |
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| Written by OHmommy | |
| Thursday, 03 November 2011 00:00 | |
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I have felt, for the last four years, that my child wasn't getting enough support from our public school because my child has always been borderline passing. Just typing "borderline passing" sends me in a fit of tears wondering what I did wrong. Two elementary school aged siblings from the same parents given the same opportunities and one child is nearly failing school while the other one is being recommended for the gifted program. This one thought has consumed most of my waking hours today, which started at four am when I woke up gasping for air - my very first panic attack that lasted until I received a phone call from preschool telling me to pick up my sick third child. Never before did I welcome such a distraction.
I hate that everyone I know reads this stinking blog. I hate that everyone will know that I have a child struggling. I hate the word borderline. I hate not knowing what I did wrong. I hate that I listened to teachers instead of my heart. I hate that I had a panic attack when I know that there are many others worst off. I hate asking for help.
All I can think of, to describe our current situation, is that my child was left behind. My child has been dragged along barely holding on during school hours (for four years) and while I understand that there are many more children that probably need more help, my child is now totally and completely left behind. So much so, that my child admitted to just tuning out this year because it was all just too much to process. Stab in the heart. Which wasn't the case in kindergarten when I sensed a problem and begged for extra help. Or in first grade when I begged for an IEP, sensing my child's frustration, but was told that my child met the "benchmark". By second grade we finally arranged an IEP meeting after months of school and well... school broke out for the summer after only a couple of short months of intervention. Enter the third grade and I haven't heard anything, not a word, from the teacher since August and now it's November (parent-teacher conferences) and my child is behind. Very, very much, behind. Below the "benchmark" quoted. Dude, my child was left behind.
I spoke very little English in the third-grade. This gives me hope for my child who was born in the USA.
I've reached a road block. I'm a horrible mess. I have no idea what I should do next. We are spending an insane (seriously insane) amount of money every month for an interventionist from another school district to tutor my child. The Cleveland Clinic pediatric doctor we have, will not allow any testing done until the school deems it necessary and no one at school has called me back after a tearful voice-mail message I left yesterday. I have known, in my heart, that my child has had a learning disability since kindergarten (or earlier) but no one around me will admit it.
My husband was diagnosed with a learning disability in the third-grade. This gives me hope because he is now an amazing doctor.
I've never, in my life, have felt more alone but filled with so much hope. I know there's a light at the end of this tunnel but I don't know how to get there. I don't know what I should do next. Please, I beg of you, tell me your story because I feel like I'm about to crumble. What do I do? Who do I call? What's my next step? How can I fight the school district - can I? Does private school offer more one-on-one help? What are my child's rights? Does my child have rights? Will I survive motherhood? |
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| Last Updated on Monday, 07 November 2011 07:46 |
Comments
Good luck sweetie, you know where to find me should you ever need anything.
Push him as much as you want from here on out - remind him that you love him and you only want him to do what he wants to do, and what he excels at. Not only will HE do this, P; YOU will do, this too. Let him rest when he says that he's tired, or overwhelmed. Remind him that you love him no matter what he does at this point; P, hun, you are an amazing mom and you know this. Rest assured that you will do the appropriate thing.
First of all, keep calling the teacher and the principal and then MARCH up there if your calls aren't returned after another 24 hours. Don't wait around any longer than that. You have to be your child's voice and advocate in this situation. Don't be afraid to demand the testing and don't give up on getting it. You do not want another school year to go by without getting your kiddo the right resources. . . you're right -- your child is getting left behind by this school district/school and if it continues too much longer, it's just going to get harder and harder to catch up (and, your child is going to become more despondent about it all).
I was a high school teacher and I can tell you that parents HAVE to be the squeaky wheel for their child. Whether they are in kindergarten, 3rd grade, 7th grade or 12 grade. Don't stop pushing.
GOOD LUCK!
You have the key to get you through this because you know the hurdles that you and your husband overcame. You know that your child's fate is not sealed in third grade.
I'm a huge believer in public schools, but not all public schools are equipped to handle all kids. A good friend of mine took her son out of our school a couple years ago because he was floundering. She found another public school nearby where he is now flourishing.
Stick to your guns. It sounds like the key will be getting the right diagnosis for the learning disability. Keep shouting until the right person hears you.
And give yourself a break. This is no more your fault than it is your child's.
Your frustration is valid. And there are people who can help. If you need anything, you can always email.
I'd call the principal again on Friday morning. Do they like the current school?
I went to the IEP planning session last week and they re doing IQ testing and a barrage of assessments to find out where his difficulties lie and we are meeting again the first week of December to discuss the findings and come up with a plan. --Keep pushing for the testing and go from there. If your school district has the resources, make them use them to benefit your child.
((hugs))
Don't stop talking to any one you can to get them to listen. You are his best advocate!!! From what I know of him through your blog, he is a great kid because of you!
for me, but it has given our little guy such an opportunity to succeed!
I am now relatively well educated and have a challenging job that I enjoy most days. I attribute that all squarely to my parents who were there every step of the way- when i failed a class in HS and when I was kicked out of college. The college kick out was pretty much because I had better things to do than go to class. Point is, I did get on track, graduated and Im fine now. I tear up just a bit now thinking back to seeing how proud my dad was when he hugged me at my college graduation. Be strong for your son, think about your own challenges you had with school and what you did to overcome them. You will be great and he will reflect it back to you.
My mother is a special education teacher who has been deal with kids for 40yrs. She does lots of IEP testing and working with children in one on one and small class setting. If you would like to contact her, I have included her email.
Lea Whetzel
whetzels
Also, I agree with Rachel. If you do not hear anything back from the principal by tomorrow morning, I would march in there and demand to be seen. Do not leave until someone talks to you...principal, vice-principal, counselor, resource teacher, etc.
My oldest is only in 1st grade so I do not have a lot of other advice for you...BUT I do know that you are an inspiration and cheerleader for your children. Jay feels loved and accepted because you show him that every.single.day! Big hugs to you...
Keep encouraging him. Provide opportunities for him to excell in other areas that can give him confidence to push through this area of challenge.
You will survive! You were born to be his mother!
(and now I will go write that last sentence on my bathroom wall so I read it to myself every day)
And yes, he does have rights. If the school won't listen and ask for the testing and everything else you need you can always hire a child advocate to come help support you at the meetings.
He's going to be ok. How could he not? He has you in his court!
Have your concerns written down in bullet points so that you make sure to communicate all of your concerns, because you will get emotional & it will be easy to leave something out.
The next thing I would do it find a new doctor. For my family, there is no loyalty in medicine. If a situation is not working, find a new medical advocate for your child.
Depending on what the outcome is with the District Administrator, moving your child to a new school to start a fresh program could be beneficial for you and your son. Two of my friends just held back their boys & moved them to new schools. It has been a huge blessing for them both. Their boys are excelling in their school work, as well as their social interactions.
Advocating for your child is difficult, but it's a huge part of your job as a mom. Do not take "no" for an answer. Stay calm. Be courteous, but firm in your demands that your son be serviced properly.
If you continue to hit road blocks, contact your state department of education and request an advocate.
You can do this.
My baby is still a baby(ish), but my sister has 6yo twin girls, and when they started school, it became very apparent that one had some difficulties. The school did the same thing to her that yours is doing to you. So she went rogue. She contacted a private pediatric behavioral/learning specialist, and took her daughter in for an independent evaluation (not sure what sort of health insurance you have, but it was covered under her PPO). When the results came in that my niece had some speech and comprehension delays, my sister took these results to the school, demanding the intervention she asked for initially. She was rebuffed. So she did the only thing left for her to do: she took her daughter out ofmthe school, got a recommendation from the ped specialist for thrice weekly therapy/tutoring, and she found a school more suited for her needs. The girls, while in different schools, are now on the same level.
Just keep banging on doors until you find one that opens.
First of all: you are NOT alone.
Second of all: NEVER give up.
I have homeschooled our 3 children, boys, on and off, for ten years now.
The situation depending on the school, the teacher at the time, the classmates, the principal then, how they are doing.
I have changed schools when I've had to.
Never tire: NEVER tire.
Keep going: you know your child best. Do not doubt your God given instincts.
Go to the library and read, read.
Go online and check out forums.
Call your local Children's hospital and ask for an education specialist there to assess your child.
These are all things we've done that are INDEPENDENT of the school and their staff and their budgets.
Never give up, keep on fighting, keep reaching out to us.
Knowing you're not alone gives you SUCH strength.
Compare yourself and your child to NO ONE ELSE.
He is yours, and yours alone. and you get one chance at this life gig to be his voice.
Let him see you smile and beam proudly when you look at him.
The words I say to myself daily, "accept your child for who he is and watch him blossom."
When I"ve run into situations where the school staff does NOT accept my child for who he is. I fight, and do what I have to do, to have him be in an environment where he can feel proud of himself.
My only advice is to follow your gut instincts. Do what is best for YOUR child, no one else's. Don't let family, friends, or even the "experts" tell you any different. Only YOU and your husband know your child like no one else. Do what is best for him, and everything will fall into place.
You definitely have rights! These people have all given great advice. I'm a 6th grade teacher and have an open line of communication with my students' parents, making sure I reply to emails and phone calls as soon as I get the opportunity to do so. If the staff at the school level is not accommodating your child's special needs, you need to go to the district level. You can ask for mediation if you don't agree with the IEP or placement. Have they talked to you about a Section 504 Plan?
My youngest still struggles with sensory integration/impulse control/difficult-to-define issues that suffice to say made him less than the ideal classroom student. Even though he is intelligent he came home (in kindergarten, mind you) saying, "I'm just a bad student." So we're homeschooling now, and I'm not trying to avoid his challenges, just ... not highlight them. He has his strengths; he has his weaknesses. I didn't want his weaknesses attached to his academic success.
I know him better than any of his some seven-plus therapists who helped him (SOOO much) throughout a two-year time span (speech and OT, especially OT) and while I may not be a professional expert, I am an expert on my son: I listened to the labels and learned what they meant; and I watched my son and interpreted what they meant for him. I found labels useful for understanding the problem, and for explaining it, but not for dealing with it or for moving forward...
Public schools simply have different boxes that they check, and they seem to be for their purposes and not for the child's. For instance, privately, my son benefited the most from OT. But by his school's standards, he didn't even qualify for OT...
Wow, I went on. But this topic is so close to my heart. I would be interested to know what, exactly, his IEP is for, but I understand the need for discretion. Blessings and much love to you. ♥
I am SO SO sorry that you are going through this. I wholeheartedly agree that you need to be the squeaky wheel! There are independent testing places as well. We had our son tested by a neuro psych that had no connection to the school. (My boys are at an independent school, so they don't provide testing anyway) You really need to have your child assessed, and then you can go to the school district and make them provide the services your child needs.
You WILL get through this, and knowing what little I know about you, your child will end up thriving! It is a long process, and very frustrating (I have a good friend at our local public school who just went through this when her child was in 3rd grade) but it is so worth is. Her child is doing well now will all the extra support.
(((((Hugs to you))))))
Gabi (Tickled Pink Talk)
I don't have experience with this issue personally but I can tell you that you didn't do anything wrong, and he will be fine. It sounds like you are doing all the right things in trying to get him some help: you just have to stick with it. You're definitely not alone: I feel like I know more people who have children WITH learning issues than people who have children with no learning issues!
I think you'll find after sharing this (and I see it in comments already!) that there is no need to be mortified that the people who read your blog (IRL friends and internet readers alike) "know you have a child who struggles". You will probably end up taking comfort in the fact that you shared this because in allowing people to read about this, you are opening yourself up to support which will hopefully soothe your fears and provide fresh ideas that you may not have thought of before now. There's nothing wrong with asking for help: you'd want your kids to ask for help if they needed it, right?
Stay the course, and I'll be thinking about you.
Go with your gut. Rally for your son, regardless of what the system says. Your kids are lucky to have you as their mother.
Good luck.
Be gentle with yourself...and know that baby steps are STILL steps forward.
I'm not sure I have the magic answer for you. Switching districts seems difficult (with your nearby districts not having open enrollment). And I'm not sure what you think about homeschooling option that has been suggested.
I can only encourage you to not take NO for an answer at your school. Be persistent, even if it means showing up unannounced at the principal's office or getting private testing.
A mother's intuition is never wrong. Trust yours and you will find the way my friend.
You have to remember that not everyone learns the same way they want to teach everyone. I know that sounds convoluted, but it's true.
Your son reminds me very much of how my brother was in school. My parents tried everything inside and out of school, elementary to high school, with little or no luck, to get him caught up with his class. Nothing ever worked. He got by, but just barely. They constantly agonized over it.
He was able to get into college and it was there he found that he could learn about things that actually interested him. The rest his history. By the time he was 28 he was running a multi-million dollar company, doing something he loved.
Help him to find and explore the things he loves, because if he can find that early on and do it professionally, knowing how to find the cosine of a triangle won't make a shit bit of difference.
Just remember you have your girlfriends to lend a shoulder to you here in CLE. We love you and your family and feel your pain. Trust your gut and keep going at that principal,teacher and counselor and make them do their job for your son.
HUGS and you are not alone.
I have not read all the other advice but I would contact an educational psychologist and have him tested on your own. It is expensive but I did this with Will (twice) and it was worth every single cent. He is now the Vice President of the National Junior Honor Society and a straight A student applying to a high school for gifted children. School is easy for him now. but it wasn't always.
The school testing SUCKS. Do not rely on it. After you find out what his strengths and weaknesses are, get him the help he needs. A good educational psychologist will arrange the IEP meeting for you and tell the school EXACTLY what your son needs. They will also be able to recommend any private therapies/tutoring he might benefit from. We have spent $ on speech, OT and all sorts of things to get Will to a GREAT place and it was the best $ we have ever spent. he is a confident and organized 8th grader now.
Kate is struggling a wee bit with specific areas of kinder this year and I have already talked to a tester about having her tested this year because I know that is the way to go if you suspect anything at all. DO NOT blame yourself. Just make an action plan and go for it.
We go to public school too and it is a fabulous one here but they are not really good at diagnostics. So for this stuff, I always call in the big guns and get private testing and help. PLEASE e-mail me if you need anything else.
I am sure some do or can help. But public has been the best fit for us. Really, they key is a thorough and accurate diagnosis from a very qualified diagnostician who will follow up and help you advocate. Here, they even recommend the best schools based on their findings.
P - follow your instincts - that is the best advice I can give you - fight for your little man - before he really starts to check out of school. If that means paying for the testing yourself (we did) then that is what you do. If it means going to another, more expensive school for one or two years, then that is what you do. Anything to get your little man back on track . . . your heart will be settled and at peace then!
Good Luck with the school
Borderline kids tend to cycle above & below the line for services so they may qualify one year & not the next. However, I am shocked that you had an IEP for him last year & the school has done nothing to continue that this year. I would dem& answers.
This is a last resort, but you may want to consider other schools. & not schools like Hawken or US, as tempting as those are. Most private schools do not get any funding for kids who struggle & many times the stragglers are counseled-out. But Montessori & Waldorf schools are great for kids who struggle because they get individuated programs & attention. There are also many local public schools that excel at working with kids at both ends of the scale – the stragglers & the gifted.
Bottom line, Pauline, is that you & your husb& are fantastic parents who will advocate for your kid. He can be nothing but successful with you in his corner.
Is nothing wrong with my Grandson.He only needs different way to grow.He knows very well math,he like dance,he likes soccer ,he likes work for me --and much more ,he will be very succesfull guy .Look on me ,I am in this Country almost 30 years and my English is worst then my 8 years old Granddouther and soo what-I am succesfull guy without good english.You are The best Mother and you have very good Husband .You also sooo lucky becuuse You have very good Mother .Conclusion.Everything will be good.God is with You
I am so sorry that I am only just commenting now. I have much to say but will try to keep it limited.
Your story mirrors ours. In 2nd grade after constantly being told that she is "doing fine" but "struggling so hard to keep up" and "perhaps we should hold her back", I took her to outside testing. They refused to do the testng themselves because she was meeting benchmarks. Barely. Testing was about $1000 total but very exhausting for my child. Regardless, it was worth it. She was diagnosed with Inattentive ADD and dyslexia. With a diagnosis, the school had to help her regardless of meeting the benchmarks.
It's now 2 years later and she does still struggle, but she gets a lot of help from the school and the help we get privately is focused directly on her areas of issue. It makes a big difference.
Pauline, your son is smart, strong and beautiful. His struggles are only a part of who he is and does not dictate his future. Some children do not do well in a traditional learning environment.
We had to fight the school to get them to acknowledge that our girl has learning issues. That was fine. It will always be harder for her but she is blessed in so many other ways.
Anyway, private testing is my recommendation.
motherhood is the most difficult, heart wrenching journey any of us have ever taken. but, the amazing thing is, we are all in this together. and that is why our children will end up just fine. because they have ALL of us to support them and we have each other.
xo
What you need to know is this is nothing you have done. If i know one thing from reading this blog is that you are one hell of a mother. You fight for those babies like noone I know. Keep her with the tutor. The school should be helping with this cost. If they are not you need to remind them that they are part of the problem.
Contact your local socail service center. They will also have resources of people you can try and get help from. That maybe more affordable. Along with a 3rd party advocate. The 3rd party will look at her school scores and assessments. Then help you fight to get what she needs. We had one in CT and it truly helped.
Sending you hugs and prayers.
You are not alone. Not in the slightest. You did nothing wrong. Your son did nothing wrong. It is a learning disability. So now, you need to find a solution.
Annie and I went through this with our eldest and with our youngest. It was a struggle to get the schools to understand and to implement the 504 for the eldest - the IEP for the youngest. The only reason - THE ONLY REASON - the schools did what we asked is because we kept after them and kept after them until we got our sons the help they needed. We got them tested and assessed and it finally worked for them - but not until Annie and I had meeting after meeting with school officials and doctors and we were able to overcome every obstacle the school people threw in our way.
PERSIST. DO NOT GIVE UP. And don't you DARE worry about what other people think - they don't matter anywhere NEAR as much as your son. Focus there.
And listen to Dziadek. He knows.
Before you proceed on a potential school change, find out what the his challenges are. You can then address his specific needs in the school system. My experience is that each school offers different that public offers help but they find ways around providing it and that private offers help at some schools and not others. For my daughter, she should probably be in a progressive learning environment. For $15,000 a year. We are struggling with making that change, for obvious reasons.
Every parent in the school is calling the principal, upset that their child isn't this or that or getting this or that. You, as the mother, need to differentiate your voice so that they hear you. I did it with the test results from outside the school. That got their attention loudly and clearly. That you have one child excelling is to yout advantage. The school can't dismiss this situation as easily. As you say, why is one doing well and the othet is struggling.
I am a believer in getting testing done. We spent SO MUCH money on tutors and this or that. The thing is that it didn't address her specific needs. We still spend too much but now it is addressing exactly what she struggles with.
I'll try to not comment now. You've hit on something that we have been dealing with for years and I have lived what you are experiencing. Good luck.
((((HUG))))
First, I have worked closely with teachers in the classroom & have seen situations like this arise. Your child will be fine because YOU CARE. Know that, ok?
Also, many times teachers' hands are tied when it comes to being proactive. (Un)fortunately they have rules, regulations & laws that keep them from doing things until a certain point; many times because parents have the opposite feeling that you do & fear their child is being "labeled" instead of recognizing that teachers are simply trying to help.
That being said, I don't know your specific situation, but I did want to take a moment to defend teachers for what it's worth - it's not always the educators, principals included. Many of them truly are trying just as hard as you are! Your children ARE loved!
Now, considering that you have as much "evidence" as you have in this situation, I think you should continue to reach out to the district, but remain as calm & understanding as you can. If you give them the benefit of the doubt, they're probably more likely to put more "fight" in their efforts for you.
I personally think that if your child struggles this significantly, the district should have addressed it in 2nd grade. Fight for your child and keep in close touch!
I know you wrote this post in a state of desparation. I bet you feel extraordinarily vulnerable, and probably still sort of wish you hadn't written this a little bit.
What I want you to know, and to thank you for, is that reading this post of yours has seriously helped ME feel like I'm not alone.
My youngest boy is struggling, and has been always, and is so completely different than my olded boy. I feel so lost and often helpless with him and his school work. I never know what I did, or didn't do. I feel guilt but don't know what I'm guilty of. And shame. Yesterday was parent teacher conf. I really almost didn't go just because I didn't think I could handle hearing bad news again. I feel ashamed just confessing that.
The good news is that here, in this TINY mountain school, he is finally getting more actually helpful help than ever has. Change of school has been enormously good for him, though he's still got a long way to go.
I'm sorry for rambling in your comment box, but YOU helped ME feel less alone, and less afraid, and you need to be told that.
Our kiddos will be okay. We'll be okay. Everything will be okay!
Nothing but love
xo
I hope that you draw hope and optimism from all the support expressed in the previous comments. It's essential that you know that you're not alone and that you're not to blame. Like so many others, I had one son who excelled at University School and a younger son with auditory processing problems that took years to diagnose as we watched him flail at school. We were faced with many difficult decisions, including holding him back a year after 4th grade and enrolling him in Lawrence School so he would have the structure and curriculum he needed to excel. His entire attitude changed after learning that he just learned differently. Was it harder for him? Of course. It was harder for all of us. But now we know that he needs audible books to accompany his reading, that test preparation requires vocal engagement, not just reading the test prep sheets and that his best is just that. His. We also learned that he excels at math and science, will always struggle with reading and spelling and needs to be pushed to engage socially. The work never ends, so we do what we can to provide him the best chance for success and happiness. There's no doubt that your son knows that he is loved and supported. Keep fighting. There is likely no answer here that will solve your precise problem, but hopefully you can take solace in knowing that so many of us have faced similar problems, and have happy sons at the end of the day.
I have no advise for you. I wish I did. I have some friends who went through that and I'll ask them. All I can think to say is what others already did. Be the squeaky wheel. And know to take strength in the examples of your Tatusiu and your husband.
All I can add to that is that I have holes in my education due to my lack of comprehension of the English language and due to a crazy xenophobic teacher. And I ended up in AP classes in high school anyway. Because my parents were like you and cared.
Take strength, Mama! This too shall pass and your son will come from it stronger, wiser, and feeling more loved by his parents than ever before. Niech cię Bóg błogosławi.
Is there a Sylvan learning center or some other type of tutoring center around that might specialize in learning disorders that can help your son? I suppose you already looked into that. It is just so disgusting that parents have to BEG for help from people that are supposed to be looking out for your child's best interest in the first place. Disgusting. I am so sorry you are going through this.
Have you looked into a parochial school or a private school? The smaller class sizes sometimes makes it easier for kids with learning disorders since they get more attention.
My prayers are with you. You are doing everything right. And just so you know, people with learning disorders (ahem, and dyslexia) are extremely bright, and think outside the box. They all have the ability to go on to very bright futures. Things will get better. No one will ever think less of your son or you because of it. Admitting you need help actually endears people to you. No one is "perfect" and a learning disorder certainly does not make anyone less than either. I know you know that, but I think you need to hear that others know that too.
Peace, and God bless!
Every year, I question our choice of Chinese Immersion, is he having problems in this or that because he's learning a different language or because this is something he would have had issues with in a regular school.
It's OK to second-guess yourself, and you are a great mother to continue working on some solutions. Please keep us updated.
And sometimes it doesn't work out, but you had every reason to have faith in a system that worked for you and your other child. Until you knew/now know it didn't.
So you will navigate this with the passion and grace you are famous for. You will get your son what he needs--I know it.
But please stop beating yourself up for coulda shouldas. You now know you need to act and you are doing so. I'm so proud of you for reaching out.
Hugs.
You've gotten so much good advice so far. Points I'd like to make/reiterate:
• Keep pressing! Your child is not the first concern of his teacher, his principal, or anyone else; you must make sure that he remains a priority.
• Document everything. Names, dates, times. Save copies. Copy people in on e-mails to make it harder for people to give you the runaround.
• There are private psychologists who can see you without a referral from your doctor or the school system, but you may have to pay out of pocket.
• Your son may well be "twice exceptional" -- gifted and learning disabled. These kids often fall through the cracks because their giftedness masks their disability.
• There are schools that specialize in kids with learning disabilities/differences. Julie Billiart and Lawrence School come to mind. But before you jump into another school, get a handle on what your son's needs are to help you make a good decision.
Good luck and God bless!
I've struggled with each of my children in school in very different ways. What is easy for one often seemed like an insurmountable challenge to the other.
I agree with others who say that you have to trust your gut and not give up.
Good luck, I'm pulling for you!
My son, who we know is on the autism spectrum, was just diagnosed with a learning disability. They added "LD" to his eligibility just last week. During that meeting (which made me feel like I'd just been hit with a ton of bricks - a learning disability too!!), I asked what can we do at home ... what private help should we be looking into. I was told - NO JOKE - "Just let us handle this. You continue focusing on loving your child and giving him confidence." Uhhh ... seriously ... I love that advice and that's all well and good BUT my son wouldn't be where he is RIGHT NOW if I'd left him in the hands of the school system and with what the government was able to help with.
(It also helps me to know that your husband has overcome a learning disability to become a doctor!! I know my son has so much potential. I KNOW he is smart!! I know these tests just aren't capturing that yet.)
Just keep pushing, Pauline!
My thoughts and feelings echo yours, thanks so much for helping me feel less along in all of this.
I was both a gifted student, and at times a failing student.
A good friend of mine has an autistic son, and she said that experiencing that taught her to let go of illusions of being in control--nothing you can do to change it, just do your best to make sure the child gets help from the school system!
*HUGS*
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