Doing Well

Both boys are now in school--Eric every afternoon from 1-3:45 and Evan M-W-F from 12:30-3. They are both doing awesome. The running might just kill me by the end of the year--or I might have to pick up an afternoon Starbuck's habit.

Evan's class only has 12 kids in it--seven of which were in his class last year. He is doing really well. Following directions, sitting, playing. On the first day, I had to go in with him to meet the teachers, etc. He had to make a nametag. Last year when he had to make the nametag, it was ugly and embarrassing. This year, he sat, kept adding more and more decorations, writing his name, etc. I know it seems small, but getting him to sit for any type of art project last year was one of his biggest struggles. It doesn't appear that will be the case this year.

He also just had his re-evaluation for speech this past week. It is an annual evaluation to see what he has achieved, how his goals need to be augmented, etc. Last year, he was speaking at a 2y, 7m old and understanding at a 2y, 2m old. This time when he was evaluated, he is speaking and understanding at a 3y, 7m old. Still behind, I know, but he has jumped between 1 and 1 1/2 years in his language in 12 months. It's just more evidence to me that he will eventually catch up!

I texted some of you about how Eric is rockin' Kindergarten. I get notes home every day from the teacher/aid and I haven't gotten anything less than a good since he started. I went into his classroom the other day to speak to his classmates about communication (sort of a roundabout way to explain why Eric (not using his name) may not talk back when they talk to him, that not all kids use their voices to speak, etc.) When I went into the building to sign in and have the secretary call the teacher to tell her I was there, she asked if I was Eric's mom. When I said yes she began to gush about how he is the most beautiful child she has ever seen. Now I know this is not necessarily the case (though he is one of the two cutest kids I've ever seen), but there is a certain light that is emitted from Eric when he is in a supportive, nurturing environment and I'm sure this is exactly what she meant. When he is in such a place, his eyes light up, his face beams and there is truly nothing better than just being around him!

Then, I ran into his speech therapist in the hallway and she was telling me how great he was doing. She asked where the difficult child was that she was warned about during his school evaluations. I explained to her that he hated his TSS in preschool last year and he must really be enjoying himself this year to be behaving so well and listening so attentively. If you hated the people you worked with everyday, you wouldn't work so hard and you would be cranky and miserable. If you like the people you work with everyday, you are more willing to work a bit harder, put in longer hours, etc. Eric's no different.

I could bore you with specific instances about how well he is listening in class, doing things on his own and for himself. More independence then I have ever seen from him. But I won't. There are too many to mention at this point and I am just so proud of him.

We moved into this district simply after hearsay that it was better than the district we had been in. We traded a cozy house with a reasonable mortgage and taxes, for, well, the opposite of that (well, the house is still comfy). We've been here two years and repeatedly question our decision to move. After the horror stories I have heard from another parent in our old district (they had to fight to keep their child out of life skills and the only other alternative was regular ed--no services even close to what we have here), along with the amazing job Eric is doing because of his fabulous teachers and staff....we now know why we moved and are more than thrilled that we did!