Gratefulness. Thats what I feel today. Its Friday, and its the last day of Z's camp. Whew! We made it!
After dropping him off this morning, I just was overcome with thankfulness! Mainly, I realized this is the last day, and HE MADE IT! He finished it. He didnt give up! He persevered and Im so proud of him for that.
Week #1 - "Why do I have to go there? Its so far away! I have to be away from my family for 5 WHOLE HOURS! THATS FOREVER!!! You cannot make me get out of this car."
week #2- "Im tired of camp. All we do is talk. Talk. talk. talk. It should be called "Talking Camp"! ..........but I do like project time."
week #3 - "I want a playdate w/ _____(one boy)_____. 5 hours isn't so bad. i can still come home and have time to play computer and see Tyler. Mr. Bill (one of his teachers) is my helper at camp. I like my helper." (I ask: do you feel safe at camp, Zach?) "Yes. I feel safe at camp. No one grabs me there."
week #4 - "You mean I'm not going to get to see my camp friends ever anymore? How will I see them? How am I going to talk to them about Pokemon and tell about my latest Lego video game invention?"
Here is Z with his camp shirt he made and the trophy he earned!
My thankfulness is also for the teachers at this camp. Words cannot even say how amazing these teachers are. Oh, how I wish he could have them all year long! Yet I have to trust that he'll be ok. I'll continue to do my best to help him w/ his challeges. But I admit some days I feel so ill-equipped to help him in some of these specific social and emotional challenges he has. Anyway.... these teachers are amazing!!!! Not one day did I get a phone call telling me he was out of hand or that I neeed to come pick him up. And, I didnt really realize it until today that Ive been holding my breath, waiting for that call, all month long. And just today, driving home, I realized the call never came. And I took one, long, deep, breath of thanks!
These teachers showed tremendous patience, compassion, and skill in dealing with Z - and the other 12 boys at camp! I just cry when I think about it! Especailly after all we went through in our public school experience..... and how awful it was, Im grateful beyond words that these adults have "undone" so many bad memories Zach has. (And I have too!!!) of "school jail" and adults who are just plain mean. He trusts these people now, and he calls the kids at camp "my friends" and likes to go. Its been an amazing transformation!
That said, I think we are all going to be glad when the commute is over! So thankful for God's hand of protection over all the driving. No fender benders. No tickets. I pass about 6 traffic cameras on my route and have had a few close calls of accidents, but God has kept us safe. Im so so very grateful. T and C have been amazingly cheerful considering all the driving we have done. I've been able to connect w/ a few other parents and learn some new strategies and tools I hope to continue to use all school year long. And I will! Because I am the teacher and I get to implement the IEP!
But that is 4 weeks away. For now I'm just looking forward to sleeping in and starting my summer on Aug 1!
After dropping him off this morning, I just was overcome with thankfulness! Mainly, I realized this is the last day, and HE MADE IT! He finished it. He didnt give up! He persevered and Im so proud of him for that.
Week #1 - "Why do I have to go there? Its so far away! I have to be away from my family for 5 WHOLE HOURS! THATS FOREVER!!! You cannot make me get out of this car."
week #2- "Im tired of camp. All we do is talk. Talk. talk. talk. It should be called "Talking Camp"! ..........but I do like project time."
week #3 - "I want a playdate w/ _____(one boy)_____. 5 hours isn't so bad. i can still come home and have time to play computer and see Tyler. Mr. Bill (one of his teachers) is my helper at camp. I like my helper." (I ask: do you feel safe at camp, Zach?) "Yes. I feel safe at camp. No one grabs me there."
week #4 - "You mean I'm not going to get to see my camp friends ever anymore? How will I see them? How am I going to talk to them about Pokemon and tell about my latest Lego video game invention?"
Here is Z with his camp shirt he made and the trophy he earned!My thankfulness is also for the teachers at this camp. Words cannot even say how amazing these teachers are. Oh, how I wish he could have them all year long! Yet I have to trust that he'll be ok. I'll continue to do my best to help him w/ his challeges. But I admit some days I feel so ill-equipped to help him in some of these specific social and emotional challenges he has. Anyway.... these teachers are amazing!!!! Not one day did I get a phone call telling me he was out of hand or that I neeed to come pick him up. And, I didnt really realize it until today that Ive been holding my breath, waiting for that call, all month long. And just today, driving home, I realized the call never came. And I took one, long, deep, breath of thanks!
These teachers showed tremendous patience, compassion, and skill in dealing with Z - and the other 12 boys at camp! I just cry when I think about it! Especailly after all we went through in our public school experience..... and how awful it was, Im grateful beyond words that these adults have "undone" so many bad memories Zach has. (And I have too!!!) of "school jail" and adults who are just plain mean. He trusts these people now, and he calls the kids at camp "my friends" and likes to go. Its been an amazing transformation!
That said, I think we are all going to be glad when the commute is over! So thankful for God's hand of protection over all the driving. No fender benders. No tickets. I pass about 6 traffic cameras on my route and have had a few close calls of accidents, but God has kept us safe. Im so so very grateful. T and C have been amazingly cheerful considering all the driving we have done. I've been able to connect w/ a few other parents and learn some new strategies and tools I hope to continue to use all school year long. And I will! Because I am the teacher and I get to implement the IEP!
But that is 4 weeks away. For now I'm just looking forward to sleeping in and starting my summer on Aug 1!
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