Back and better for the break

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Back and better for the break
7
Sun, 01-07-2007 - 5:00pm

Hi everyone,

We took a full 2 week break and are much, much better for it. We stayed in hotels, which do have online access, but time-wise I just never get to the laptop during trips and barely to my emails, which build up, so I have been completely out of the loop. Just dh and I not having to work those 2 weeks (while homeschooling and running ds to appts. everywhere etc.) was SO relaxing, and we skiied and sledded and swam and Malcolm played and played with his cousins and we all went to bed early every night in the hotels, slept way in every morning. Vacations are a very good thing.

Except as Debbie told you, Malcolm was sick a day with stomach flu -- but Deb, that was the only day! So sorry it was the day of our playdate, so fun to meet you both. And Isaac is such a cutie, and as I said, so very hard to tell there is anything spectrum up with him, unless he is having a big sensory moment (such as the hair washing). We have so often the same response about Malcolm from other people, so it was interesting for me to be looking so hard for symptoms and not really see any for so long, turnabout...

Malcolm spent 2 days attending school in my sister's northern MN 3-4 grade class, where she has NINE special needs kids with 14 general ed kids and no second teacher at all. It was amazing to watch, my sister is indeed a genius teacher, those kids were so well-behaved and happy and all learning together, mentoring each other. It was really good to note that he is very up to par with other 4th graders on curriculum, esp. as we have always had him in special ed schools, actually he has learned so much during this homeschooing period. hmmmmm. Of course, the class was all so excited about having Malcolm there and all jockeying to make friends with him and he had an absolute blast.

Do I think he MIGHT be able to be mainstreamed? Yeeeees, if the teachers were terrific. Such a big IF.

Anyways, we are back to the grind, more schools to see, back to making money, seeing his pals for playdates, and I had our apt. cleaned top-to-bottom while we were away as a special treat for me on my return.

Back to the grind. Sad the Holidays are over.

Sara
ilovemalcolm

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2005
Sun, 01-07-2007 - 7:12pm

Welcome back!!


Sounds like the break was just what you needed.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Mon, 01-08-2007 - 12:48pm

Sara,


It's funny how you are typing so much more calmly after your break. ;) I am glad you guys got to take a well-needed vacation and let your hair down a bit. I know it has been a full-court press for several monthst, and you needed some time to decompress and re-group.


Awesome news about your sister's class BTW. If Malcolm might be ready for mainstreaming now or in the near-term; that woudl be marvellous.

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 01-08-2007 - 7:30pm

Sounds like a great vacation! Yipee about the mainstream class and Malcolm! He may just shine in an environment like that if he is now getting ready.

I know the PS in NYC aren't any good, is there any sort of private school setting that may work for him or any inclusion type programs. SOme magnet school for quirky kids that sort of thing?

Good luck. I bet at least it is nice to feel there are some more options for him as your options were looking pretty darn thin for a while there.

Renee

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Registered: 03-20-2003
Mon, 01-08-2007 - 10:13pm

Sara,

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 10:01am

Dear Deb,

It was great fun meeting you, also. Isaac is a lucky boy, and it shows in him what a good job you are doing as a mom.

Our fold-out couch is yours for the asking. Bring Isaac!!! I don't know much about "Deal or No Deal" but I can find out. (I don't watch TV mucb...) My sister (the teacher) has gone to "Good Morning, America" with her daughter several times, had a blast, even gotten to go backstage one time and meet the hosts. She was NOT impressed with Matt Lauer.

Moving to MN? We are not considering a permanent move, but are thinking about a 3 month stint up north if my sister's principal would allow a "visitor" with an attending para who also happens to look like his mom... Questionable that we can make this idea work, but we are thinking about it. I'll obviously let you know.

Sara

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 10:29pm

obviously!


Hey, if you were here for 3 months, chances are I could actually plan a visit up north!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 10:33pm

Dear Paula and Renee,

About the mainstreaming, sadly I don't really know of any situation in NYC that I believe will work for him, because the inclusion classes are so overpopulated and improperly supported for special needs. The only stories I have heard are horror stories. I have thought for quite awhile that Malcolm could successfully mainstream, if there were a truly proper, appropriate program, but he would certainly need an aide ... not a good bet in NYC to really get a good one, as they are SO sadly underpaid and undertrained. And like Mike and his aide, Renee, Malcolm would need an intuitive person who could read his reactions and help BEFORE there was trouble. If he had that, AND a terrific teacher, even though not necessarily the brillant level of my sister, he would indeed do very well, I know this in my gut.

There is one private school that might work which is even just a few blocks away from our apt., but our chance of getting that school paid for plus a para from NYC DOE is almost nil, according to our lawyers.

Our options are as thin as ever, but if I want to move to No. MN... I know right where to go!

Sara