It Begins!!

The beginning of the school year begins. First comes meeting parents who are new to the program. Mr. Frogman is main stream in school. He has a teacher that works with him in the classroom with his best friend "The Sheriff" as labeled by his mom.

It was a great time meeting the other families at a concert in the park Thursday. What a great group of people!

The new mom to the group who is still trying to deal with the fact that in her mind based on social biases that her child is not perfect. After meeting this young man what a spectacular child. I saw Mr. Frogman and how he was 2 years ago when beginning this program as well.

Listening to this mom and how she fought against all odds (like most of the parents had to including myself) to get the necessary help for her child from the school district. I know the school district gets money for children with special needs and the ones with the actual diagnosis. I would be curious as to how much. Not that I don't know but I would like to see the cut and dry side of things.

It still hurts in a sense knowing my child is not "normal" and very quickly I kick myself in the backside and realize that he is as normal as could be. No one is perfect and I was rushing back into what society thinks is "normal". As I talked to this mom I saw myself 4 years ago when he was diagnosed, in tears wondering where to turn and what to do. What resources were out there? Who could I talk to? Now I find myself one of the people that others turn to for the same questions I had.

All anyone of those new parents is looking for is a hand to reach out to, hold and talk to. They are still in denial. They will be broken in soon enough. It's getting past what society tends to control in peoples minds.

This got me back to thinking of my fight to get Mr. Frogman the help he needed after he was diagnosed. I fought for 2 years being a squeaky wheel from his 2nd and 3rd grade year, with meeting after meeting with the counselor (who really didnt like me - Long story here I will go into soon) and many other people in the school. Then I heard about a program at another school that I could get my son qualified for with his diagnosis.

I talked to the counselor, and kept getting the run around. He kept "losing" Mr. Frogmans diagnosis. Finally his teacher at that time helped me by going around the counselor to the head of special ed services. The only problem I had was that the head of the special ed department was the wife of the counselor I was having problems with. She wasn't thrilled with me, but I put a quick end to any issue that may have come up between us. She hemmed and hawed a bit and I introduced myself to her. She mentioned that her husband and me had issues. I looked her straight in the eye and replied, "Yes, we did. I don't like him at all. But being that we are here for the benefit of Mr. Frogman my feelings are not important. We can do one of two things. If you are not going to approve him for this program due to my feelings for your husband coming here was a waste of my time. If you are here for the benefit of Mr. Frogman and can put behind you my feelings and opinions for your husband professionally then we will get along just fine." Mr. Frogman was approved on the spot. The next school year he was in the program he needed, we had and still have in district transportation to the school from our house any where we are located in the district.

I shared my experience with a few other parents that had shared theirs. It seemed when we were all done that I had had the worst experience. Again my opinion is due to this particular counselor but again I will share that story another time. Against all the unsolicited opinions of teachers who kept saying he is ADD or ADHD you need to put him on medication Mr. Frogman is right where he belongs. He is now with one of the best teachers who is working with him and has diligently for two years. We will definitely miss her when he moves into middle school after this year.

Being a single parent and not having very many people understand what you need to do each day to keep things on an even kiel is what is difficult. Most people think your life is just like theirs. People with children with Special Needs from Autism, ADD, ADHD, MS, Downs Syndrome and many others (this is all I could think of after todays Hullaballoo) have to do so much more. Over time this all becomes the norm of our daily lives.

I, however, would not change a thing about my life or his abilities or lack there of in certain areas. After meeting these families though and meeting with Mr. Frogmans teacher for the final year of his elementary education before entering Jr. High or Middle School depending on what they want to call it had to be a great beginning to what I know is going to be another fantastic year for him at school.