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.