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Life Getting in the way - Find Your Strong

Roller831
Member
7 8 131

My life has been getting in the way of supporting people on this site lately.  But...I've got something to share AND I am Finding My Strong!  This has been a VERY stressful week for me.  You see, my 14-year old son has special needs and we had a big meeting yesterday.  He is in 8th grade and going into high school next year.  Not only did we have to re-do all of his evaluations which are done every three years, but we had to determine his eligibility for services AND decide if we could keep him at his current school or would he have to go to our district high school.

While I don't share too much of my personal life here, I am happy to report the meeting is over and I am content with the result.

The meeting was 3 hours long.  To summarize....
We are keeping the placement at the current school.  Phew!  

He is keeping his current eligibility.  In addition, we are adding two more eligibilities.  This should help him down the road when he transitions post-school and applies for a job or other assistance.   It was determined there is a neurological issue where my son does not cross the mid-point of his body and turns his body to compensate.  This could be a big part of a larger issue dealing with his vocabulary, reading, and comprehension.  The left side of the brain is not talking to the right side of the brain.  You may have heard it called Brain Balance.  He also has a visual perception issue on top of his other special needs.

The team also agreed to provide a tutor for him.  This falls under ESY.  ESY just means extended school year, but you can define what that really means.  My son will (and has always) attended the summer program at the current school, but he will also get tutoring outside of that and even during school breaks now.  This will be paid for by our school district.  This is a huge win.  Of course, the win is because we have an advocate which costs us a small fortune.  It is worth it, but it is expensive for us.

I'm happy and sad at the same time.  My poor kiddo has more issues than we thought and he has really done an amazing job of compensating for them just to get through the day.  

My stress level was through the roof.  This Mama Bear fights for her kids with all her might, but sometimes the fight is really difficult to do and you don't think you have it in you to fight anymore. 

Even though we are not completely done with all of the paperwork, the big stuff is done.  He will go to high school at his current school and not the district consolidated high school where there are over 2000 kids and perhaps not get the needed services with qualified staff.

I survived and didn't really even think of smoking!  If anything I thought how nice it was NOT to need or want a smoke during that 3-hour meeting!  It resolved in my head I CAN get through ANYTHING without a smoke.

I've seen a few on this site slip/relapse recently.  The theme I've been seeing lately needs repeating...

You can do this!  

NOPE - Not One Puff Ever

SINAO - Smoking is not an option

I don't do that anymore!

The only way out is through...

I may want to - but I won't.

One step and then another will get you where you want to be.

I've got a new one, too.  Self love is the greatest middle finger of all time. 

I love myself enough to give smoking the middle finger!  I found my strong this week even at my weakest moment in that school meeting.  Don't give up.  Fight for it.  Find your strong.  You deserve it.

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