School

Only one of my kids went to preschool. As you can guess, that would be Jack. He was in a special program through the county, offering Early Childhood Education. His classroom was run by 2 head teachers, and 2 assistants. The program allowed for peer models, which were typically developing kids of the same age. Savannah was not in the peer model program, although Jack's teachers did let her stay one day, which was absolutely great. (I hadn't had a morning all to myself in some time, so it was much appreciated!). In all honesty, I did not even think of enrolling Savannah in a preschool, because I worked from home when she was born, and didn't feel I needed to leave her elsewhere. She could go with me everywhere. (She's in the 98th and 99th percentile for both Math and Reading, respectively, in her grade, nationally, so I don't feel that I did her a huge disservice).

Jack was in preschool for an additional year, starting Kindergarten at age 6. This wasn't planned, but his birth date was about a month past the cut-off date, so he's about a year older than his classmates. I was totally fine with this, because he really did need to work on his social skills. I had hoped that an extra year would give him just enough of an advantage, that he would be fine once he started elementary school. Academically, he is about as smart as a whip, like his big sister, but he does still struggle with everything else most of the time.

I really wanted him to go to the same school as Savannah. This was my ultimate goal at the time- get him where he needed to be socially, so that they could be together. I also wanted very much for him to be fully included in the regular classroom setting. He does get Speech, as well as Occupational therapy. He currently has a Mental Health specialist he meets with at school, which (thank goodness) he actually enjoys seeing. This year has been so rough, though, dealing with his behaviors, and the school's often ridiculous ways of handling him, that it's apparent Jack can no longer be there. We've been stressing to the Special Ed. coordinator for the district that he be transferred in the Fall, to another school in the same district, where they offer an Autism program- one that is apparently the same one they used at his preschool.

Jack's dad wants him transferred ASAP, but my feeling is that pulling him out during the school year is going to stress him out, and not have a positive result. Savannah moves to Middle School in the Fall, so my thinking is that if we can somehow get through to the end of this school year (June), it will be a natural transition for the both of them. I think Jack does need a fresh start, and the adults there are much more likely to handle him appropriately. The only thing is that Jack will have two years there before moving on to middle school himself, and he will not end up at the same school as his sister. It seems necessary, and the best thing we can do for Jack but I'm a little disappointed that it's come to this. Makes me feel like I've failed him somehow.

Thinking of being a failure, I wonder how Jack will feel years from now, if he will give thought to his childhood and all that he's gone through. It's so important for him not to feel different from everyone else, and yet he just is. It's so unfair what kids like Jack have to go through. They didn't ask for a disability of any sort and yet they have no choice but to live with it. And we as parents have to teach them to just make the best of it.