Perspective

I always stress so much about Thanksgiving.  And this year I kind of threw my hands up in the air and was like, whatever.  It started two weeks before when I realized I couldn't find my recipe folder and I didn't really care.  Instead of freaking out, I calmly sat down and recreated what I could, and made new stuff where I couldn't.  I cut down on the appetizers per Doug's requests, he insisted that we had too much food and nobody cared about the appetizers anyway.  At least 3 people complained about the lack of hummus, so he was wrong.  But whatever.  No one went away hungry.

The shopping got done, the linens got ironed (by Doug, I don't iron), the food got cooked, and besides the last minute scramble to get everything on the table, I really was fine.  I've been too busy stressing about Michael to stress about anything else.  I also think the bigger kitchen helped a ton.  Too many people in my kitchen tends to drive me crazy, but it didn't bother me so much this year because my new kitchen is so much bigger.

I also didn't take one picture, but the new dining room looked lovely with the millions of pieces of formal china that I packed not so lovingly so many months ago.  And Michael made everyone place-mats, which was very fun.

We had a lovely weekend with extended family, both at The Mall and doing some shopping at a mall, at which Michael spent some time at a crowded mall playground, without an issue.  I still don't understand how a child can do so well (well, not so well, he is a 4 year old boy, with all that comes with it) everywhere else can do so poorly in school.  Isn't it normally the opposite?

He has his trial day at the new school today, and we have a conference call at the current school tomorrow, which I'm sure will be fantastic.  I've kind of decided that worst case scenario is we limp along, finish the rest of the year where we are now, go to camp, and then start public kindergarten just like everyone else.  Because there is just no way things can be as bad as they are making them out to be.  Our two private evaluators didn't agree with them.  My sister, who works for the public schools, doesn't agree with them.  We are having him evaluated by the public schools as well.  Maybe we need to take it down a level from deaf-con level 5.

Don't get me wrong, I am not pulling Michael out of the private services we are doing.  I do believe Michael is having behavioral problems at school.  I just don't believe these problems are so outside the range of normal 4 year old boy behavior, nor are they to the extreme that the school is saying they are.  Or the school is exacerbating them.  Or not helping.  There is something there.

So, here we are.  I'm sure tomorrow we will be somewhere else.  It changes daily.

Comments

[Wife and Mommy]

Very glad your Thanksgiving went well this year!

Hugs to you as all this Michael stuff continues...

[Angie]

For the last 20 years I have been saying that schools have lost touch with the normal behavior of young children, especially with children starting school at younger and even younger ages than ever before. I do not and will not ever agree that most young women coming out of college should be put in a kindergarten or first grade class as a first teaching assignment. I have MANY issues when it comes to any teachers with extremely limited early childhood experience in their 'real' life. They judge your child and behavior based on what - a book? a study case? some childless wonder of a prof who really doesn't know anything at all about real kids and their needs and behavior. I know you are doing the right thing for your son and it is all going to work out down the line. You will get through this and you all will the better for it. :-)

P.S. My pediatrician did not have children when I began using her. Lots of things she said didn't sit well with me but I found myself delighted when she became pregnant. 1 year later she agrees she once gave very wrong advise and hands on experience taught her more than I ever could relay to her. Real life = real eye opener. LOL

[Sarah]

Glad you and your family had a nice Thanksgiving. A big kitchen definitely makes a difference. Sorry that you are still in the midst of the school problems!

[mouthy_broad]

"i don't iron" i knew i liked you.

so squee to use the good china. that is why you have it. what a delight.

[CT Mom]

Good for you on lowering your stress level and enjoying Thanksgiving in your new home. I used to stress at the holidays too (we host Christmas and I do the whole turkey spread). Not any more - it is what it is, I cooked it, eat it, don't eat it, you're the one who goes home hungry. I get to keep the leftovers :-)

As for Michael - I agree with your observations, and even your worse case scenario isn't so bad. You may be pleasantly surprised how well he does in kindergarten.

And I remind you again - you're a good mom!