Dance Dance Dance

Nights like tonight are always a little bitter-sweet in many ways.  Sal is going to her very last Jr High dance tonight AND...... she wore. a. skirt!  :-)   It was all her idea.  So were the orange nails and red toenails.  ;-)   But back to what I was saying:  I'm happy and I'm sad.  I'm proud and I'm jealous.  I can't believe how far she's come and I hate how long we have to go.

The ugly feelings started bubbling up as I painted her nails.  Probably to most mothers this is a fun thing - maybe even something you can go and get done together.  With Sal it's a chore.  She squirms and laughs and makes the most unattractive screechy voice and at times you want to slap her - but then she's SO appreciative of it too.  I swear - if you weren't a little crazy before your special needs kid - you will be after - just from the sheer craziness of the emotions. 

She came home with notes from teachers today.  Good-byes and We'll Miss Yous AND Thank yous to us for *letting* them teach Sal.  That always gets me.  The tears always start as again I'm reminded that there are SO many people who SO appreciate her and they're not even related! 

So we wait for Cinderella to return from the ball.  I can't wait to hear the stories. 

Goofy, Loveable Auntie Jill

Aunt Jill came up this last weekend.  She comes up for each kids' birthday.  She stayed a little longer so she could see Sal's soccer game.  We had a BALL.  It was a BEAUTIFUL day and we sat under a tree and had a perfect view of the Brick.  :-)   My sister was amazed at how Sal stands while the others play around her.  She is so funny.  Sal loved that Aunt Jill was there and that we all got to see her "play".

The girls all went to Goodwill and Meijer over the weekend.  Sal got a TON of stuff at Goodwill.  She had a card that got her 10% off.  She must have got it when she was with Bill one time - I had no idea about it until she pulled it out and handed it to the cashier.  ;-)  

We then went home and watched Preakness.  No Calvin this year - which made us sad but we were glad to see I'll Have Another win #2 of the triple crown. 

Jack had a wonderful birth-WEEK.  Presents came on Monday, Tues, Thurs, and Saturday.  ;-)   He got a lot of Legos and has not stopped building stuff since they rolled in.  I like that he'd rather build than play video games. 

Strange happenings in the "family":  Sister-in-law "un" - friended me AND Bill on Facebook.  Kind of strange and out of left field being as how we haven't seen them in over a year.  Also the middle child un-friended me only - BUT had no problem cashing my check for birthday and graduation.  :-)   When I look at stuff like that I can't help but laugh.  I have this happen and then go see JBSRA play and I thank GOD that he's given me a gift like Sal and her friends.  Aunt Jill and I talked a lot about how we take for granted just what is important in life.  Her and I are a little more in tune since we DEAL with our Special Needs loved ones.  I find it interesting that she's glad she doesn't have my trials and I'm glad I don't have hers.  Isn't there a saying about if we all put our problems in a big bag we'd all pull our own out.  Something like that. 

It always amazes me that my sister is so adamant about being glad she never had to do what I do with Sal - BUT - she's SO good with Sal.  Seriously, she treats Sal like any other kid - but yet also knows her limits too.  Sal just adores her.  Her first question when Aunt Jill was to go home that day was:  Is Aunt Jill here?  And second was:  Did she take her cookies?  :-)  

Sal knows what's important in life. 1. Good People 2. Cookies   :-)

Oh, School, School, School

Listening to my usual commie (is that how you spell it?)  radio talk show- a teacher called in and gave her opinion that the school system started going downhill in the 80s when parents were told they HAD to start being advocates for their children and to be a part of the school system.  As everything in this country we take something good and reasonable and go ALL THE WAY over to the other side. 

My life being strange as it is - I got a call from Jr High - where Jack will go next year - about Honors.  Jack's 5th grade teacher thinks he should be in Honors next year or he will goof off and cause problems.  Here's the deal, though:  his test scores that they use to place children were all OVER the place!  So, as I talk to the teacher in charge of placing him, I'm thinking SHE knows BEST.  *I* have NEVER placed someone.  *I* have never seen how children with these types of scores do in these types of classes - let alone *I* have never even read statistics in this. 

Soooo, long story short - Jack is in Honors in Science and everything else is "regular" - and intervention in L. Arts!   CRAZY boy!  I have so much concern for Jack.  I don't want to overwhelm him but I also don't want him cutting up and making every one's (including me - the important one) ;-)  life hell.  I explained to the teacher that I don't care about the "identification" of Honors - that I want to HELP make good decisions about his schooling and that I'm looking to her - a LOT to share with me her perspective.  (I do think I heard her body thump on the floor as she fainted)  ;-)  

Ask me about the Jack at home - I'll tell you - he's picky - he most definitely doesn't like to try new foods, hates the thought of vegetables in contact with his person.  He takes a bath or shower every morning - mostly to warm his little scrawny body up.  He LOVEs wrestling and Ghost Adventures.  He doesn't care to read a lot - but will gladly cuddle up to you as you read (after badgering him into doing it).  He still calls me Momma.  He cries whenever we talk about heavy subjects.   He LOVEs to argue with his sister.

Now, about Jack at school.  Well, I don't know a lot - except what I'm told.  And truthfully he's kind of different.  THEY ALL ARE!  Sooooooo - how am I to "know what's best for him" and fight till the death for something I know nothing about.  Wouldn't that be like taking him to the Doctor and arguing that no, he does not have strep throat - *I* know what he has.   But in the parent world you're made to feel guilty if you don't go in with guns blazing and get exactly what *you* think you should for your kid.  So, I ask - does that follow through life?  Do I follow him on job interviews and fight for the job *I* think he should have?  If a Cop pulls him over - do I go to court and fight for how fast *I* think he was going?  Do I interview his dates for the one *I* think would be best for him?  (I think Sal may be thinking that will be her job)  ;-)  

Don't get me wrong.  There are teachers out there who may be of no good - but they are SO very few, and even the ones I really didn't care for never gave me the impression that they were TRYING to hurt my child.  In fact, it was ME who had the problem - my children LOVED them and flourished with them.  I think parents need to be involved and working WITH the school - but also be able to STEP ASIDE and let them WORK.   

Dang, it's been a while since I've been fired up.  :-)  So, I'll get down off the soap box now.  Your turn.  ;-)