I'm Free! I'm Free! Uh, I Mean, First Day of School

We ALL (yes, including Cameron) have been looking forward to today for the past month or so. Cameron was beyond ready to see his friends again, have a set schedule, and learn. I've been ready for peace in my home those few precious hours while he's away. Don't get me wrong, I love Cameron and I love having him around, but there are many days when he and his brother fight SO much that I just want to be done being a mom.

Cameron woke up extra early this morning, excited. I woke up when the alarm went off, tired and excited as well. We didn't have to worry too much about his clothes, because he set them out last night.

We didn't have to worry about him forgetting any school supplies, he'd already dropped them off at the school when we went to the open house on Friday. It was pretty relaxing, until the boys got into another fight (over toy cars, of all things...) and mom did her usual yell of, "Stop! That's enough! Don't HIT! You're NOT in charge!!"

The bus came, and he was off...practically out the door before the bus honked it's horn.

I'm excited for him to learn more, meet new people and become a little more independent...but I'm really excited for the peace and freedom I'll have by only having one needy child at home. :D

No, We Don't Just Live in the Past, or ONLY Watch Videos...

My extended Love Story and the Mothers' Day Videos have kept me from updating you on my family. (Well, mostly, I did a FEW updates...)

The school year is winding down, and Cameron is anxious to go to his new school. Even though his current school does go from Kindergarten to sixth grade, the DACC (Developmentally Accurate Curriculum Classroom, aka Special Ed) only goes from Kindergarten to third grade. Next year he'll be at a different school, still in the DACC, but one that goes from fourth grade to sixth. We have a transition meeting on Friday, and I am also feeling the nerves. I hope that his new teacher is as motivated as his current teacher. I have to admit, the thing I absolutely LOVE about DAC is that the teacher is the same the whole way through. Instead of switching teachers yearly, Cam has had (until this current school year) only 2 teachers: his Kindergarten teacher, and then the DAC teacher. This year, he got a new teacher because his old teacher took a position teaching pre-school. I have LOVED that Cam is more obedient to this teacher, that this teacher believes in Cameron, and that he's a MAN. Honestly, I used to think all guy teachers were boring and jerks. (Coming from my OWN experience in high school.) I never knew any male teachers who taught elementary, so I was shocked when Cam's pre-school teacher was a man. I had pre-conceived notions, and his teacher, Mr. Lange, showed me that a man can be a GREAT teacher for little kids. When I heard that Cam was going to have another male teacher, I wasn't as trepidatious as I had been with pre-school. He has THRIVED under his teacher's care. He responds better to him, and has had less bad (reported) behavior. It's been great. I've been trying to petition Mr. W to follow Cameron to the new school, but he assures me that he is needed at the current school, and that the new teacher is wonderful too. We will be anticipating meeting her on Friday.

Cameron has also had a mohawk for a while. The terms when I gave it to him were that he must be obedient, and show good behavior. This morning, the bad behavior ran amok. Cam woke up SEVERAL times in the middle of the night (once before Steve went to work at 4:00 am, when I woke up for my potty break at 5:30 am, and then again at 6:00 am....) and was a BEAR to wake up this morning. Once he finally DID get ready, he was still defiant (which, actually is a typical morning behavior for him, before his medication and all...) and got three warnings. After the third warning, I told him what was going to happen, and pulled out my hair clippers. The crying ensued, and I stuck to my guns, when he was warned he KNEW he could stop and would be able to keep his mohawk, but he continued being defiant and bratty. Good-bye mohawk. Happily though, he was much better behaved after the loss of his mohawk....yay!

Jacob has become QUITE independent. I put a bowl of fruit on the kitchen table, and in the last 10 minutes he's brought me two bananas. He can help himself to most things, which isn't always a good thing. He does dole out "I love you" often (even to someone at church yesterday....it was very cute!) And he blows kisses and makes the noisy *mwah* noise afterward. He talks a LOT, understands, A LOT, and has a great personality. He's lots of fun, most of the time.

He's also picked up a bad habit of screaming loudly in enclosed spaces and at a very high pitch. He thinks it's funny, and will do it, JUST for our reaction.

He's quite the entertainer, and even likes to show off for people he doesn't know very well. (Although he does play bashful first...) His favorite place to be is outside, and will often grab our hands and say, "Ousside!!! PWEEASE!!!!" When we agree that he can go out, he erupts with, "YAY!!" and then claps his hands.

I'm having a hard time believing that he'll be 2 next month.

Steve has finished his choir concert, which was very nice. He was even on the local news when they played part of the concert on the news. He noticed that he looks QUITE somber when he sings, I told him that he just needs to smile....we'll see. He is also getting ready to try-out for another musical. I know that I've mentioned that I HATE it when he is in plays, but I want him to participate with groups that are family-friendly, and this choir, has proved itself to be otherwise.

At his last big performance, I took Jacob and Cameron, by myself, to hear him sing at a church I'd never been in. I felt uncomfortable, and should have just left, but I stayed to support my husband. This concert was late at night, after a long day at church, and Jake was very unhappy. He didn't want to sit still and be quiet any more. So he cried and screamed. I took him out of the sanctuary and tried to calm him down, but I knew I couldn't leave poor Cameron all by himself for too long, so I went back, but this made Jake upset, and I had to leave with him again. This cycle repeated itself about 4 times. I was so humiliated and frustrated by the end of it. When it was over, Steve was carrying Jake out, and a lady, who we KNOW well, and actually invited Steve to the choir, shook her head at Steve, giving Jake the stink-eye. Steve asked her what was wrong, and she said, "He shouldn't have been given a second chance to come back."

Are you KIDDING me!?

Then she didn't stop, she kept going, "There is a reason MOST concerts have an age limit. He shouldn't have come back because they were recording this concert...." blah blah blah.

I felt about an inch high, and was SO thoroughly embarrassed that I just grabbed both boys and left. When I got to the van, I was in TEARS. How DARE she act that way? Kids are kids, and it's not like I could just take Jake and leave Cameron sitting by himself. He has anxiety issues, you don't just abandon a kid with anxiety issues.

I kept trying to calm down by telling myself that she didn't know any better, and that I was a good mommy, and it was just her being an ornery old lady.

The next concert, the next night, Jake went again, and was MUCH better behaved. The guy in front of us at this concert commented on how well behaved he'd been, and that we should have heard the loud child from the night before. I was embarrassed, AGAIN, and vowed to not take him anymore. I didn't want to even go myself.

So this time, I went with JUST Cameron to the second performance, and we enjoyed it. But there were noisy kids at this concert. I let the noise go, because, heck, I'd just been reamed for having a noisy kid at the last concert, I wasn't going to be a brat. Once the concert was over, that lady, the one who'd chewed ME out for taking a noisy child, under 8....to a concert, hugged on these kids. THEY WERE HER GRANDKIDS! I was so mad! SO mad! I just ignored her and left.

I know that the organization that he's going to try-out for is child-oriented, and I feel better knowing that if I bring a noisy child to a performance with this group, I won't be shunned, humiliated, or made to feel bad.

And me? Oh, I'm just plugging along. I was spoiled with my Mother's Day stuff yesterday. I got two sprouts that Cam planted at school, a marigold from Jake and nursery, and two bamboo plants from Steve. I am LOVING the color in my life.

I also got some cute cards, a book light, and TWO corsages. It was a very fun day. I even got to talk to my missionary brother in the Philippines. He'd called my mom VERY late at night to tell her to set up Skype. She was so loopy, and didn't know who he was (he didn't identify himself...) But she got my other brother working on it, and he set up my parents' big screen TV as our Skype. We talked with him for an hour, and got to see his SEVERE tan line, and his teeth. (LOL, apparently, in the Philippines instead of fixing teeth, dentists just PULL them out, so we asked him if he still had all of his teeth...) It was so much fun to SEE him, and talk with him. It was great. We now have a countdown date for his homecoming, and my boys got to talk to him a bit too. Jake kind of ate the microphone, and ran around, but Cameron LOVED talking to him. When it was over, he begged to do it again. We told Cam that he could talk to Braiden when he comes home in 3 months. He got very excited and did a little bit of a happy dance.

I also participated in Bountiful Baskets. A food co-op, where you pay $15 or more, if you want organic, and you get equal parts fruits and vegetables. This last week was my first time, and I quite enjoyed it. We ended up with TONS of yummy food. This last week's basket had lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, spinach, brocoflower (or as my brother prefers to call it, "cauliflocceri"), corn, watermelon, apples, bananas, mangoes, and tangelos. It was SO yummy. I still have a ton of stuff left. I may have to do this every once in a while...it's just too fun.

Saturday I also went to my cousin's wedding. It was lovely, and a big adventure. Things got a little mixed up when we went to the reception, but we figured things out. She was gorgeous, and I enjoyed talking with her parents. I don't see my aunts and uncles nearly as often as I used to.

Overall, things are going well. We're happy, healthy, and surviving. :)

First Day of School

He's happy and ready.

So am I!

End of School

School is FINALLY over for Mr. Cameron.

He did really well, especially once we got him on the correct meds. His teacher made the comment that she was so pleased to see medication help a child out SO much.

Reading through his end-of-year papers I've come across some news.

First, Mrs. Annoying Principal Woman is LEAVING! Can you see me doing the happy dance?? Seriously. She is going to another school to go back to teaching. I'm sure she's a nice enough teacher, but she's just bugged me as a principal. My main gripe with the woman was the fact that at our FIRST meeting ever, she walked in 30 minutes late, heard us mention that Cameron hits children (but only when he was distracted) and immediately decided he needed a bunch of services that really weren't necessary. She *thought* she was being helpful, but she really just made already nervous parents even more anxious.

Over the years she's mellowed, but I still haven't really liked her. Now, I won't have to deal with her again! *Happy dance*

Second, in his papers I read news that I had already known, but was sad to see anyway. His teacher, who I REALLY love, has decided to stop teaching the DAC class and will now be teaching preschool.

I don't know who his new teacher will be, but I do have some new hopes. I hope that she has a different teaching style for reading.

Here's my main complaint. Cameron IS developmentally behind most of his peers, I get that, I do. BUT he is a smart boy. He learns something a little slower than most, but he still learns it. Unfortunately, the reading program that was set up for this classroom is the Edmark program. In Edmark, kids don't learn letter sounds and how to "sound things out." Instead they learn whole word recognition.

To me this is a completely STUPID program. Cameron has only learned 44 words in his last 2 years in this program (not counting the 30 food words that they had for lunches), and really, he hasn't learned them very well. He SOMETIMES recognizes the words, but mostly he gets the words mixed up with other words. And then he feels bad about it because he says he KNOWS the word, but he gets confused.

Poor Cameron would love to pick up an easy reading book and read it, but he can't. Unless you know of a book with these random words in it: "horse," "yellow," "car," "fish," "boy," "airplane"...

I've decided that over the summer, on the days he's NOT going to The Learning Center, I will take him to the library, let him pick out a book, and then I will help him read it. I REALLY want him to be able to read a book on his own. I know it would really help him with his self-esteem.

I'd tried to add the goal of being able to read a book into his IEP, but it never made it. I don't know if my hope for him got pushed aside because they didn't want to work individually with him, but it's not there. Instead his goal is to read 90 words by December, and 100 words by next May. I'm so discouraged over this.

Since school got out yesterday, Cameron has been HOUNDING me for things to do...wanting to do the activities IMMEDIATELY! He's SO used to a schedule, and I am NOT a schedule person.

On top of wanting to do things all the time, he's a bit confused. He's had plenty of small breaks throughout the school year that he thinks that summer break will end on Monday so he can go back to school. I have to constantly tell him that he's not going back to school until September. It just doesn't compute.

*sigh*

I miss him being in school, but I'm excited for the things I HOPE to accomplish.

Little Updates

I've been whining TOO much about my pregnancy!! Seriously, why don't some of you guys just cyber-slap me? ;)

There ARE other things going on in my life, and I'm going to take just a little bit of time and let you know what some of those other things are.

Cameron was supposed to have summer school, but we've recently discovered that he doesn't qualify! Yeah, we were shocked too! Apparently, to qualify for summer school a child needs to have a deficiency (meaning after a school break they regress) or an emerging trait (which he doesn't.) His teacher told me that after Christmas and Spring breaks he continued to progress....no regression! Which is actually a good thing, right!? (I keep repeating this to myself....) So his learning is GOOD, not bad! The problem I'm having with the decision is that he really SHOULD have summer school. Last summer the boy knew ALL of the letters of the alphabet (which according to their counting is 52...upper and lowercase letters). When he came back to school this year, he had lost the letters, instead of knowing all 52, he only knew 18. He also knew the letter sounds at the end of last school year, this year, he only knew 15 sounds...see the regression? To hopefully keep what he's learned fresh, we're putting him back in the Learning Center several days a week. I'm crossing my fingers that this will keep the boy from falling backward.

I've fallen in love with a new book series. Anyone heard of Fablehaven? If you haven't heard of these books, I would HIGHLY recommend you look into them. If you love (or even just like) the Harry Potter books, then Fablehaven would be right up your alley too! I read the first book in less than 24 hours, then I read books #2 and 3 before the end of the week. And since I loved the Fablehaven series so well, I even read The Candy Shop War....again, in less than 24 hours. I have to say, the guy who wrote these books writes in such a way that it's an easy read, without making you feel stupid. He even puts in words that make you think, "Now what does that mean again??" Yeah, SO good!! I love love LOVE them!!

Our bedroom is now ready for another person to inhabit. We've cleaned and rearranged things so that we now can fit the playpen at the end of the bed, and can hang our clothes in our closet. Steve fixed the closet while I was at either a church function, or something....I wasn't around....and he finished it!! He's such a great guy!!

We've also got an air conditioner that we're installing in the bedroom window. I managed to get my dad (the carpenter-man) to cut me some wood so that we can have an air-tight seal. I had measured wrong initially, but we've since fixed the prego-brain's boo boo.

And, hey, we've been stimulated!! ;) We're spending a little on Cameron, who has out-grown most of his current clothes, and using the rest on unpaid bills. Yeah, we're "stimulating" the economy! :P

Things really aren't all bad! I just seem to complain a lot....sheesh! Things are working out VERY well, and I do love my life! Among the different doctor appointments, the NSTs, and Cameron's appointments my life is very busy, but I do love every minute of it. If nothing else, I always have something to laugh about!

Realization

Just this last week I've come to the realization that Cameron will NOT be able to catch up with his peers. I don't know why I kept this hope alive, but it seems that the boy will forever be behind his friends. He's SLOWLY learning to read, and most of his friends from last year can read well. *sigh* This was my fear when the school told me that they wanted to put him in DACC. I wanted him to keep up SOME interaction with his classmates, but so far this year, he's been interacting more with the second graders.

Admitting this is SO hard for me. My son will always be behind. He may possibly end up in Special Ed classes his whole life.

I'm still doing the right thing, right?

I Just Don't Get It

Last spring, before school got out, we requested that Cameron be tested for in school speech therapy. (He's been getting community speech therapy for YEARS, and we figured the more the better.) And they said they'd get RIGHT on it.

Fast forward to Tuesday. I get a call from Cameron's teacher. She tells me that the speech therapist has FINALLY finished Cameron's testing and we need to set up a meeting for adding an amendment to his IEP.

NEARLY EIGHT MONTHS!! What is that speech therapist doing, asking him ONE word per session?? Sheesh!!

But I guess I shouldn't complain, I mean, it's done, and I'm pretty sure if there's an amendment meeting, then it's a sign that he's going to be GETTING the therapy. But taking 8 months?? Seems a LITTLE ridiculous to me.

On top of this frustration, we had to reschedule the initial meeting, because Mrs. Principal (whom I despise) couldn't make it at that time. Uh, did we REALLY need her there?? All I've EVER had from her is frustration.

The first time I had EVER met the woman, she showed up 30 minutes late to the meeting, in the middle of our conversation (on which EVERYONE was in agreement) and insisted that we do something else, because she only heard PART of the conversation.

Thanks, but NO thanks, woman. I know what my son needs, and it isn't you!!

Update of My Trip, and Cameron's FULL School Days

So far, Cam is doing well in school. All summer he's been telling us, "Mama, I get to be in the NEW school!!" (His school has been having some MAJOR renovations, and if he was in the REGULAR 1st grade class, he would be in the new part of the school, but since he's in DACC, he's in the OLD part of the school.) He seems a little bummed, but he's doing fine! I've started a NEW thing that I will be doing every Tuesday though, I will be picking him up early EVERY Tuesday so that the kid can continue with his speech therapy. Uh....wooo hooo???

He's also doing FULL days of school now, I like it, but I don't know what I'll be doing when I'm not babysitting....Tomorrow will be the first day I'll have without ANY kids at home, I guess I'll find out what I do then!

And now to tell a little bit more about our adventure into nothing-ness:
I hadn't realized how desolate Nevada REALLY was. I found myself getting excited when we passed a trailer-house. And rest areas?? Oh, MY GOSH!! We were lucky if we found one that had an outhouse! We actually stopped at one that just had a picnic bench, pavilion, and garbage cans that had the orange fence around them!! But since we were so desperate, we peed behind the garbage cans anyway!! (Don't judge us!!)

It was VERY smoky, and it was hard to see the mountains in some places!! It was crazy!!

By the time we got to my sister's new town it was LATE! I was cramped in the back of my parents' suburban the WHOLE time, and I could feel my legs swell up! It was PAINFUL, but I did okay! We ended up at her house around 10:00 pm, and had the trailer unloaded by 11:15! It's amazing the work that can get done when you're tired, and in pain! Luckily we had BUFF men who would pull out the heavier boxes, and leave the lighter ones (that they dubbed "women's boxes") for me!!
We all pulled out our inflatable beds, TRIED to find a piece of floor, and we slept soundly!! I did giggle quite a bit, because my parents were just around the corner from where Steve, Cameron and I were sleeping, and my dad has a bit of a.....um......flatulance problem! It sounded like applause!! *snickering* Okay, so I still have the sense of humor of a 13 year old boy! WHO CARES, it was funny!!

Then we all slept in until 9:30 the next morning, and we drove another 10 and a half hours to get home. In that time we got to stop to see my in-laws to get my NEW fun toy: a NEWER washer and dryer!! THEY MATCH!! I can't believe I'm SO excited about this, but I am!! I can't wait for laundry day now!! We got home, and I put Cam to bed, then set up my new toys. I slept SO well that night!!
I have no doubt that Michelle and Jeremy will be just fine! My sister cried when we left, but I told her that it's okay. I KNOW they're going to be JUST fine!! It may take a while to adjust, but their neighbors are very nice, and it seemed like a VERY nice town!

Tears of Frustration

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, and figure if I spill my life story here then I'll feel better!
I've started going out for training with my new job, and it's great...except my trainer (who is seriously AWESOME) is calling me CONSTANTLY! If you know me, I'm NOT a phone person...at all! She wants me to be free to do appointments all the time, and that's just not me. Maybe I've gotten into this TOO fast, but I'm feeling overwhelmed there! (Not that I don't love the program, but just feeling a bit like I'm being pulled in a few directions at once!)
Then I had SUCH a good week with my scouts last Wednesday, and this week?? Well, we're back to them disobeying, running, screaming, fighting...blah! We are going to implement a new reward/discipline system NEXT month...I really hope it works!
Then today I had a meeting with Cameron's school about what our plans for next year will be with the kid. The meeting was scheduled for 8:00 am, meaning, I had to get Baby J here early, Cam and I BOTH ready to go, and hope that Steve was home from work, so I could drive down the street to school with BOTH boys in the snow and rain. (Yeah, the weather was kinda wet today!)
The meeting was SET to start at 8, but do you think they could get everyone there??? *muttering under breath* The meeting FINALLY started 20 minutes after it was supposed to, and we started discussing my sweet boy.
The first person was his teacher...who LOVES him and has worked REALLY hard with the kid all year long. She showed us his scores from the beginning of the year to just last week. The kid has seriously slipped in where he was compared to the rest of the class. The things they're studying are just too hard for the kid, so instead of getting like a 76% on his tests, he's getting a 43%! She said that he DOES do better work when his in-class aide is there, but he's starting to depend on her TOO much.
Then they asked the resource team what was going on with him in their room, and they mentioned that he's easily frustrated, and is showing signs that he's just not getting it.
Then they asked ME what he's doing at home. INSTANT tears! (I'm just SO emotional when it comes to my boy....almost TOO emotional.) I told them that he tries hard to help out and be a good friend. Then I told them that when I ask him to work on some of his homework, instead of telling me that he doesn't know what it is, he gets frustrated and cries. If you push him too far on something challenging, the kid shuts down. He's just easily frustrated. It's almost like he's afraid to admit that he doesn't know something. Like he just can't find it in his heart to say the words, "I don't know."
Then we reviewed his score from the testing they did at the beginning of the year...the one where he was labeled mentally retarded. (They actually have a different term, but for the life of me, I can't think of it.) Anyway, I'm actually grateful for this term now...because of the results he got, he's now qualified for many services he otherwise wouldn't be able to do. Because of this label, Cam will definitely get the aides and classes that he needs to learn at his OWN rate.
Because of all of these findings with the boy, the whole group came to the conclusion that he'll fare better in the DACC program instead of a regular first grade class. DACC (Developmentally Accurate Curriculum) has children from Kindergarten to 3rd grade in a setting where they will each get a specialized plan where they can learn the same things the other kids their age are learning, but at a slower rate. We figured he'll do even better if he's in DACC than he'll do just thrown into a regular class with an aide. Honestly, this is the LAST thing I thought I would agree to, but after seeing how he's not following or even getting some of the concepts, I think it's best.
I guess I'm just having a hard time admitting (to myself) that Cameron ISN'T like other kids. That he can't just go on to first grade, and learn like other kids. That my son is in the "special" class. I know, I shouldn't judge...I shouldn't put unreasonable expectations on my child...every child is different....he'll learn at his OWN rate....but it's HARD for me to admit it. My one big concern with him being in this program (which only has a maximum of 12 kids in at a time) is his social development. Will he be able to play with other kids his age, interacting with them like he does now? Will they tease him? Will he get the social time that he needs to grow in THAT area? The teacher who is in charge of DACC assured me that not only do the kids do intense learning in her classroom, but they do have inclusion times where they are with the "normal" first graders.
I KNOW in my heart that THIS is what he needs, but I'm just feeling a bit drained by it all. Steve and I fought SO hard to keep him from going to this type of program, but it seemed that it wasn't enough. And once I told the group at the meeting that what they suggested sounded like it was what we needed to do, they ALL told me that I'm such a good mom. (HUH!?) They told me that they'd like to clone me for other kids who have parents who don't care. I just broke down even MORE.
Not only is he going to start integrating into the DACC program now (like starting NOW they'll be taking him in there for a half hour a day...) but they're also adding in-school Speech therapy to the long list of things he needs. He'll also be doing summer school....sort of a requirement for being in DACC...and he'll be in a class without his little friends. He's constantly asking me NOW who will play with him, or who will be his friend that day...and now....It's all just breaking my heart. I know, I shouldn't be feeling this way.
And then I'm babysitting a lot more than I had expected. When I have Baby J, I really can't do much...I'm not helping in Cam's class anymore (which doesn't ease my guilt over being a lousy teacher to the kid...) and I'm stuck home with a cranky, clingy, whiny boy. And because his mom just started a new job, they sent her first paycheck to her in the mail...and she didn't get it until today!! We are late on MANY bills...checks bouncing like rubber balls...and I'm still doing the best I can! (She IS going to be able to pay us tomorrow though....YAY!)
With all of my crazy other things, my house has become ground zero. Laundry piles are EVERYWHERE, toys are scattered all over my upstairs, my bed is coming undone when I sleep on it, I haven't done dishes all week, and my vacuuming has stopped. Feeling lousy, just isn't a solution when you have a messy house.
Well, that's it...that's my frustrations....I hope I can handle things better. I just hope....

Frustration with the Big Kids and the Little Ones

I wanted to shoot my husband, but I didn't! Yesterday he pretty much had complete control over our computer. (I know, I should SHARE!) Anyway, he took a digital picture of our Christmas tree and tried to set it as our wallpaper for our computer, but he had the resolution TOO high, and messed it all up! All of a sudden we had a message telling us that our computer (or whatever) was out of range. So I called my little brother, who originally put our computer together for us, and I whined to him. He came right over (even though it was 10:30 at night) and fixed my problem! I guess I shouldn't be so frustrated over the whole situation, but I am. Because my little brother came over, he reconfigured everything, and now my screen is totally WEIRD! Ugh! I'm such a "everything-has-to-be-the-same-girl!" :PThis is our cute, little Christmas tree....we're someday hoping to get a bigger, better one....that's PRE-LIT!

Then today I did the whole mama/teacher thing at Cam's school. Usually they do centers, but since last week was so short, they finished up their centers yesterday, and began some testing today. Mrs. K asked me if I could help with testing, and I figured I could. It was NOT as easy as I had thought! We were testing two kids at once, with multiple people giving tests at the same time. The kids were EASILY distracted, and tried to copy off of their neighbor's paper. Even if they had the right answer and noticed that the person next to them had put something else, they'd change their answer! I just wanted to scream out, "NO! You had it right! Don't change it!" but then I remember that I was pretty much the same way when I was that age. I remember being in a spelling bee in the first grade. I was supposed to spell "front" and I spelled it correctly, but when the teacher asked me to respell it, I thought I had messed up and spelled it a DIFFERENT way. Another kid in the class pointed out that I had spelled it right the first time, but since I had changed my mind, I was wrong. From that time on, I decided that I would stick with my FIRST instinct, even if it was wrong, because it COULD be correct. Anyway, back to today...the kids in Cameron's class kept looking to me for confirmation of their answers, but all I could really do was ask them if they thought it was right. It was SO hard, especially with my whole OCD going on, but I did it! I'm so proud of me! *patting self on the back*

And now for the results of my game from yesterday! Yay to Carrie and Suzanne for guessing the songs. Neither one knew BOTH, but they each knew ONE! (You guys are SO funny!) The answers to #4 and #5 were Silent Night and Noel. Both cheesy, but I found both very funny!

The rules to my funny game: you have to figure out the mixed up titles to these Christmas songs and I'll put up a link to your blog and make my fancy, dancy award say YOUR name! (I know you're ALL DYING for that!)
Song #6: Present me naughty but dual incisors for this festive Yuletide

Song #7: The smog-less bewitching hour arrived

Song #8: Exuberation to this orb

Good luck!

Busy Times and Christmas Game

So much going on! Thursday was Cam's parent/teacher conference. UGH! He's doing okay, but he needs mucho help! So his teacher sent him home with a fun set of video tapes to help him out!

Friday we spent going to the dentist, Temple, and to a nativity display! It was busy, but fun! The whole nativity thing was awesome! In this church they had over 700 nativities set up! It was SO COOL! Then when we were done wandering around we stopped in the chapel where there was a group of kids playing Christmas songs on violins! Needless to say the whole day was emotional and I ended it bawling my eyes out! (Happy tears though!)

Today was my lazy day! I tried to get some of my favorite Christmas music on CDs for listening in the car, but ended up listening to the Forgotten Carols over and over and over...Bawling the whole time, of course! It brought back memories of the first time I saw the performance...when I was IN the production! Michael McLean told the choir (ME!) that this performance was for us, not the people watching it, but for US! I loved every minute, and even caused a stir when I laughed REALLY hard at his Aladdin part! The first time I performed in it, my Grandma H was really sick with cancer, and she and my grandpa were about to be sealed in the Temple. At the end of the show, Michael sang "Hold On" and I knew everything would work out for the best, no matter WHAT the outcome!

Then tonight we crashed my parent's ward Christmas party. It was so much fun! And thanks to the people on their activity committee, I've got a game I want to play until Christmas.

The rules are, I'll put up the mixed up name of a Christmas carol and we'll see who can guess it first! Ready?

Here's the first song:

The apartment of 2 psychiatrists

Hmmm...I'm being mean, this was the HARDEST song on the list, but it was number one, so it goes first! Good luck!

I'd Rather Be Cold than Hot

Okay, so that's my saying...like for reals! (Gee, I'm reverting back to my kindergarten days!) Lately it's been REALLY, super, FREAKIN' cold! Like yesterday, I took Cam to school, and walked with him to the toys while he played until the bell rang. The principal (UGH!) came over the loud speaker and announced that according to the weather service it was -5 degrees, and that all students needed to line up and go inside IMMEDIATELY. Kids with blue faces didn't disagree, and lined up FAST!

After getting inside, I found out that I wasn't really needed in class to help, so I walked home. I guess I had been inside just long enough that I had started to warm up, because my face was KILLING me! It hurt so bad, I walked home faster than I had ever done before.

After getting home, I curled up on my couch with one of my warm quilts and tried to get myself warm again. This is why I'd rather be cold than hot! If you're cold, you can ALWAYS find a way to warm up, but if you're hot you can't always take enough off to keep cool!

Anyway, after warming up for an hour I finally was able to feel my face again! YES! AN HOUR!

I decided to take my time getting Cam from school, because I didn't want to freeze outside waiting for the kids to come out. Even with leaving my house later than normal, I still had to wait 10 minutes. As I waited I looked at the snowflakes falling on my big, floofy coat. I pondered the saying that no two snowflakes are alike, and watched as many similar ones landed on me.

When Cam finally got to me, he wasn't wearing his gloves, so I made him put them on (since he was crying that his hands hurt, and the fact that they were BRIGHT red.) As I was shoving his hands into his gloves one of his little friends was trying to be funny, and made a snowball. Now, as anyone who lives in snowy weather knows, when it's THAT cold outside, the snow is just fluff...there's no substance to it, really. Anyway, this little boy didn't know that (he had earlier in the day stuck his tongue to a metal pole!) and he tried to throw a snowball at Cam. The snow plastered his face! It went behind his glasses, and down his hood. I was NOT happy with this.

His friend immediately started to apologize, but I knew I needed to get him home as FAST as I could! We ran home, with Cam crying the whole way about how his face hurt, while his little friend was screaming his name over and over.

I got him in our door, and looked at his face...it was blue and purple! Yes, people, it was STINKIN' cold! I then grabbed a washcloth and ran it under lukewarm water and pressed it to his face and hands. As soon as I had him warmed up a bit, I grabbed the kid and cuddled with him under that warm quilt I had laying on my couch.

I wanted to kick that kid in the shin! I'm not the kind of person to actually DO that, but that's what I wanted to do. I couldn't believe he'd do that. I guess he learned a couple of important lessons yesterday: 1) NEVER stick your tongue to a freezing metal pole, and 2) Never throw snow at your friend's face on a FREAKIN' cold day!

Re-Explaining the Situation

Maybe I should explain my dilemma a little bit better!

Cameron is getting in-school occupational therapy, physical therapy, and is pulled out every day for 15-30 minutes to go to the special ed room where they work on his reading and other essential skills. Cameron IS in the regular classroom the majority of the time, but the problem comes in when he doesn't have his aide right next to him. The teacher pulls him out to his little reading group during the centers (they have a TON of stuff to do while in those little centers!) And when he's just with his teacher, she can't get him to grasp many reading concepts. He knows his letters (one of the few in his class who does) but he doesn't understand that when you put letters together in a certain way that it makes words.

The benefit of putting him in the DACC program is the speed at which they work. They do the exact same program, but at a much slower rate. In Cam's current class they only have an hour to do a center: social studies, math, word work, art, and listening and reading. There are four centers, and usually at each one there are TWO projects to complete. For example, this week I ended up doing the same center twice. We had to copy words in our best handwriting and then color and cut and glue an Indian boy into a canoe. Doesn't sound that hard, right? Well, when you're a frustrated little kid it takes FOREVER. Not only do they have limited time to complete these projects, but they're constantly being called out for reading groups and to work on the computers. There are times when I'm working with my little group of 6 kids that I only have ONE with me. I know it sounds chaotic, but it works...for the most part.

Now, my dilemma comes when I think about taking him out of his current situation. He's doing well! I know that he'd do SO good in the DACC program...he would continue to learn and grow, but I worry that he'd lose his social skills. The principal, when she first pitched this idea to me, assured me that the kids do have times when they interact with their peers, but it's only on a small amount of time. Right now Cam is making friends left and right, and LOVES it! He does fine when he has someone who can explain things to him in a one-on-one setting, but he can't have that ALL of the time! He's getting many special programs working and vying for his time, but he's in the regular classroom for the majority of the time, and that's how I prefer it.

Okay, do you think I've made my case? I don't know if it makes ANY sense, but I do feel like for now, we'll continue doing what we're doing.

On a positive note, Cam is actually thriving here at home. I can't even begin to explain the difference I'm seeing in my little boy since I stopped babysitting those kids last week. He's been SO well behaved, and has been talking like a normal 6-year-old! When I was watching L and E he'd talk to me like he was a baby. It drove me bonkers. Now, he's funny and I LOVE it! Even when I'm babysitting baby J, he's better behaved for me! I didn't realize what kind of strain my babysitting was having on him until this week. The change in him is dramatic! I'm so glad that I followed my gut (and the advice of all of you and my family) and stopped the craziness! Life is VERY good!

Parent Trauma

Doing double duty at school is exhausting! I mentioned to Cameron's teacher on Monday (when I was there helping) that if she needed I could help out on Wednesdays, now that I'm not babysitting on them anymore. She was thrilled beyond words. Up to that day (mind you, it's the end of the first trimester) no one had volunteered to help out with the centers on Wednesdays. So she quickly switched me from Mondays to Wednesdays and asked that I start this week, if possible.

Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE working in my son's classroom...I feel way more connected to what's going on than anytime before. BUT, working with little kids who don't really want to do what they're supposed to is hard! There was one little boy who was SO distracted by the workers who are putting brick on the building I was sorely tempted to move him to the other side of the table where he couldn't see what was happening outside. Another little boy wouldn't do anything unless I was sitting RIGHT next to him. On top of these uncooperative kids we have the chatty little girls, who have to tell you a MILLION things before they do their work, those who would rather joke around and play, and then the fact that today was a short day. Every Wednesday is a short day in this school, makes both teachers and students hurry, hurry, hurry!

As all of the kids left to go to recess and then the library I sat and just vegged. Mrs. K came in and talked with me about how Cam has been doing in her class. He's a smart kid, but he is HIGHLY distracted. She was telling me that most of what they're learning in reading is going OVER his head. I figured that much, but then she said that maybe he would benefit from going to the DACC program. Everything in my body refused to allow this thought to process. I don't want him to fall behind socially, and that's the main reason I keep him in his regular class, but when his aide, Amber, isn't around he doesn't learn anything.

So here's my dilemma, should I keep him where he is (I feel he's doing just fine) and maybe tutor him more at home, or should I put him where I know he's learn more, but may suffer socially. Oh, the trauma of being a parent! I have a feeling that I need to get the kid tested for ADHD (just a recent thing that one of the many doctors he's seen recommended...) and I don't really know where to go for THAT, but oh, I'm just frustrated right now!

How Many Posts Can I Do in ONE Day?

I have some exciting news on helping my child with his school work. His teacher gave me an EXCELLENT website...and I just have to share!! :) Seriously though, I didn't realize Cam could be SO interested in one thing for so long! He played on this site for over an hour today!! This is now going to be a regular part of our days!

How Would You...

Okay, I've got a couple of gripes that I HAVE to get off my chest. It just hit the fan today and I don't know how to deal with either problem.

Problem Number ONE:

Today at school Cameron hit a little girl. Normally that in and of itself would be a HUGE problem, but there is more that just makes it worse in my mind.

The teacher caught it and disciplined him appropriately, but his in-class aide missed the whole thing because she was helping another child. UH! Why is she even there if she's NOT doing her job? She is supposed to be there to keep Cam on task so that he doesn't get distracted and doesn't disturb (let alone hit) other kids. I can understand that she may have been distracted for a while, but IT'S HER JOB! UGH!

Should I confront her about it? Or should I just let it go until something like this happens again?

Problem Number TWO:

Today was my crazy babysitting day (I had three kids to watch ON TOP of Cam...two of which are teeny babies.) Anyway, I had to start my morning bright and early, 5:30, and for at least two of the kids my job was to end around 1:00 that afternoon. Not a problem...if it had worked out that way...

Luckily Steve has had the last two Thursdays off and has been able to walk Cam to and from school...then I don't have to worry about how I'm going to get him there. But I'm still stuck watching a two-year-old who is VERY much into the "terrible twos" stage, a fairly content 3-month-old who only needs attention when he's hungry or poopy, and a very clingy, demanding one-month-old who wants to be held CONSTANTLY. I deal with the screaming from the baby J (the one-month-old) by letting him scream it out for the half hour or so that I'm caring for baby E (the three-month-old.) Little L (the 2-year-old) is pretty content to play with toys, making a mess, or watching cartoons. She does demand a sippy every once in a while, but she's pretty easy to care for.

What really frazzles me is when all three are demanding things at once. I can go from organized and collected to at my wit's end within seconds. (I had a bad breaking point today...just about killed anyone who crossed my path for those few minutes.) So, I've had a rough day, and to make things worse, the dad who is supposed to pick up his kids at 1:00 IS NOT THERE!

My friend told me when she dropped her kids off this morning that the plan was for him to get a ride from work to pick up the truck at his wife's work. Then he was going to come and get the kids after that. So he should be there around 1:00, 1:15 at the latest. I was looking forward to just watching J and Cam....2 kids would be HEAVEN after the day I had experienced.

Well, one o'clock comes and goes. No problem, right. I rationalize in my mind that he may have hit traffic. I think to myself, "I'll wait until 1:30...if he's not here to get his kids by then I'm calling his cell phone." I feel like I should give people the benefit of the doubt, because things come up, and it's expected that out of the ordinary stuff will happen...I can understand that.

So when he's still not there at 1:30 I call him. He gives me this story that the person who was supposed to get him from work couldn't come...they had other things going on. Okay, I can understand that, but where are you? Then he tells me that he ended up catching a ride with someone he works with, but the guy speaks minimal English, and C, the dad, speaks minimal Spanish. He tells me that he was BARELY able to give the guy directions to his home, let alone directions to a babysitter's house. UH! You couldn't give him directions to get your truck? He sounds sincere, but I'm beginning to think that this is just his way of getting away with leaving his kids with someone else so he can sleep. Granted, the guy has just gotten off a 12 hour shift, but what about me? I expected MY work day to end when he got there at 1:00, now he's telling me it'll be longer? At this point I'm MADDER than I've been in a LONG time, but I keep my cool, and tell him I understand.

Then C goes into this story about how he's just talked with his wife. She's not feeling good, he says, and she'll be getting off work early, and will pick up the kids when she gets off. She'll be there SOON! Okay, that means I only have to watch them for a short while until she gets there. I say good bye and hang up, waiting for L to pick up her kids.

She normally gets off work at 3:00...she got to my house to get the kids at 3:30! THAT'S NOT EARLY!! She apologizes and apologizes, telling me that she's upset with her husband. We discuss that he's probably using all this as an excuse, and how it's really not fair to me. She tells me that I need to tell C my feelings, letting him know that if things don't change soon, I'm going to have to stop watching their kids. She totally understands my frustration, and she's even sharing it, but her husband JUST DOES NOT GET IT!

So here's my dilemma:

I love watching these kids...I feel like they're my own kids most days. I love my friend L...she totally gets what I'm going through, and sympathizes with me. I want to continue to help out my friend, but I'm not getting through to the husband.

All I want is some respect.

I want things to work out so that if I'm told my day will end at 1:00, it WILL! I just want them to be honest with me...when they tell me something I want it to happen the way I was promised. Is that too much to ask? How can I deal with this husband who doesn't understand my predicament?

I'm tempted to tack on an additional charge...$5 for each hour over what they've told me. It seems mean, but I feel like it's my only option. I'm pretty much letting them use me as it is. I'm only charging them $80 a month...for 2 kids! I'm feeling used, and it's not fair that he's using me to get what he wants.

What do you suggest I do? Right now I'm going to take a Midol, eat my delicious chocolate ice cream, and fume some more. HELP!

Classroom Mama

Today was fun! I went to drop Cam off, like I do everyday, except today I was asked to stay and help out. Since today is my one day off during the week (every week) I agreed and trailed the kindergartners into the school.

Once in the classroom they started out by writing their names on a packet of papers and then drawing a picture of themselves. Of course there were those few who are so advanced over the others that they got bored really fast with this activity. After that they said the pledge (I was so happy to see that!) Next they had story time. During story time the other mom and I found out what exactly we were going to be doing.

The kids separate into different "centers" where they do different activities (arts, science, math, and listening.) I picked the math center...and I COULD do it! Yay for kindergarten math! All they had to do was trace shapes and color in the solid ones. WAY easy!

Without knowing what I had done I volunteered to be in charge of the group Cam was in. Big mistake! The kid KNEW he could get away with all sorts of crap, so he did! He whined and bawled that he didn't want to do it. The teacher's aide had to help calm him down and get him working. See, I could deal with the other kids...they listened to me, but my own child would NOT cooperate! Eventually we all finished and the kids moved onto other things. After the centers they went to gym. While they were out of the room we talked about how chaotic those activities had been. The teacher told us what her plans are for calming it down, I'm hoping that it will work out...for her sake!

While the kids were at gym Cam's new in-class aide, Amber, showed up. I wished her luck and then we talked about why she was there. (Mainly to help keep him focused and on task.) I'm REALLY excited for her to start! This should help out those poor overdrawn teachers immensely!

While the kids were still out of the room the teacher, aide, and other mom were asking me if I was tired. Amazingly I wasn't! Playing with those kids wasn't any more exhausting than Primary on Sunday! All three of them were searching for coffee to help keep them going, but I was fine. Weird!

Now every Monday morning I will be in Cam's class being a classroom mama! Oh, the joy!

Just a little while ago I got my hair cut. I will post pictures of me....once I get them taken. Today might not be the best day to do that since it's still brand new, and not quite "fixed." The stylist just cut it, thinned it, and then I had her wax my brows! Ahhhh....I feel amazingly hairless! It's WONDERFUL! When I got home, I quickly went to a mirror, shook my head out, sprayed with hairspray, and VOILA!! It's done! I love it when I don't have to do much to it for it to look nice! And yes, I'm bragging! I'm so cute! :)

Day Two of my Kindergarten Saga

I'm THRILLED beyond words!! A little girl from church is in Cam's class!! When I was talking with her mom earlier this summer, we both mentioned how good it would be for our kids if they were together in school, AND NOW THEY ARE!! I can breathe a sigh of relief. Little Jane will take GOOD care of my boy: helping him feel more included and help him be more outgoing. Jane is THE most outgoing little kid I know! I love her to DEATH!! Every Sunday she makes sure that she goes out of her way to make Cameron know that she's happy to see him. I can't tell you how excited I am for this!

We walked to school this morning...on our own for probably the last time for a LONG time, and I reviewed all of the "walking to school rules." ("Do you see any cars coming?" "Hold my hand." "Where are you going to meet mama after school?") Now I just have to worry about getting my babysitting habit under control.

Here's my NEW problem: I'm adding yet another child to my growing list of charges to babysit. (YES, I am officially insane!) Last night I talked with my aunt who wondered if I could watch her granddaughter for an hour or two here and there while she's busy working, and her daughter has to go to work...until her OTHER daughters get home from school. (Are you confused yet!?) So now my babysitting schedule is going to be crazy!!

On Mondays I will pretty much be on my own!! (Thank heaven for SMALL miracles...) I'll only have another kid if I have to watch baby B. (My new charge...she's 7 months old...so she'll be one of the OLD kids! What am I getting myself into!?) And even then, I'll only be watching her from 12:30 until 3:00! Not too bad!!

On Tuesdays I will only have to watch baby J. (The newborn...he'll be a month old on Saturday!) I'll start watching him about 7:30 or so...I haven't really figured out the times yet with him. I'll be talking to my cousin about it sometime soon! And after school, Cam STILL has speech therapy. Will I be able to shuffle all of this!?

On Wednesdays I may or may not have little L and baby E. (Little L is almost 2 and baby E is 3 months old.) When I start watching them tomorrow I'll have to be awake at 5:30 AM! (I am NOT a morning person, so this will be the hard part!) My friend L will drop them off in jammies and blankies and hopefully *crossing fingers* they'll sleep until 8:00 or so. (As long as Cam doesn't wake them!) Then I'll have to dress all three kids (me too) and walk Cam to school at 8:30! This is where I'm starting to think I was crazy to agree to all of this. Hopefully we'll get a routine going and the kids will adjust quickly! On Wednesdays Cam gets out of school early, so we'll pick him up and I'll only be busy with all three kids for an hour or so...until L and E's dad comes to pick them up.

Thursdays will be my insanely busy day! I'll have baby J, little L, and baby E! We'll ALL have to walk to take Cam to school....can I say....DOUBLE STROLLER!? Then I'll have all three kids together until noon....After L and E go home with their dad I'll have J until about 4 or so, but in that time Cam will have to ride the van so he can go to occupational therapy at 3:00! I'll be able to NAP when they all are gone! (At least I'm hoping!)

Fridays I'll be back to having L and E...coming bright and early at 5:30! But we don't have therapy, or extra kids...unless I need to watch B. (B could come during ANY of those days too, so the count will stand at kids: 5 me: one!)

I may have to babysit on an occasional Saturday, but it won't be too bad! On those days I'll only have the kiddos for a few hours here and there! My main concern right now is just finding a decent play pen to put the babies in while the older ones romp and play. Right now when I lay baby E on the floor he loves it, but he will get mauled shortly afterward if I don't keep a close eye on him. I'm hoping with a play pen, he'll be able to lay or play without the added bonus of being attacked by little L and Cameron.

So, in summary....I'm a crazy lady and I need a padded room and a straight jacket immediately! Anyone able to help!?

Day of Nerves and Relief

Kindergarten is going FABULOUSLY...even with it's being the first day! I got Cam up and dressed (He whined all night last night. Don't really know if it was nerves, or if he was really in pain like he claimed!) He was so defiant, but seemed ready to go to school. We got dressed, and then we were off on our walk to the "big" school. (It's just down the street...takes all of 2 minutes to get to the front door of the school!)
Anyway, as we started off, I noticed my visiting teaching partner walking her daughter to school as well. I thought, "This will be cool...having our kids together!" We walked to the classroom and Cam kept asking me if they really needed him at school. He's always been an inquisitive child, and when he asks us why daddy has to go to work our response is, "Because they need him there." So he thinks that school is his work, and that they need him there! I reassured him that they DID need him and we walked into the room which was FILLED with students, parents, and aides. I saw some kids who clung to their parents for dear life, and others (like my son) who found their seat and waved good-bye to their parents...all grown up! We dropped of the community supplies (aka: school supplies) then we hung up empty back packs and found our way to the school's library. Most of us were BRAND new as kindergarten students' parents. I think MOST of the kids are the oldest ones and that's why we all were new to this. We talked with the principal (still don't know if I like her or not...), filled out forms, and made sure that our kids were ready to continue their start into kindergarten.
We actually didn't do too much, so after the "open house" was over we all sat in the hallway and waited for our students to finish up their evaluations. I don't know if I explained it very well, but what the deal is with the unknowing which session they're in is this: the kids were tested today to see where they place on early reading tests. Those tests were evaluated to see what percentile they're in, and then the classes were arranged with equal numbers of kids who are high on the scale and low on the scale...to make for a more BALANCED class.
When we were all crowded into the library I checked to see if I had turned in the proper papers for Cam to be in school and the secretary showed me the paper. Next to Cam's name it had "AM." She asked me if I still wanted him in the AM session, and I agreed. She told me that unless something major happened, he would most likely be in that session since I had requested it. PHEW!! What a relief that was!!
I ended up talking with some other parents and we all were nervous for our kids and hoping they were all getting along well. After a very LONG hour (time really does change when you are anxious!) the kids came out, found their parents and backpacks and the day was done. I talked with both the principal and the teacher to tell them that the in-class aide situation was in the works, but that the aide couldn't start until NEXT week. They both thought that was okay, and reassured me that he would be just fine this first week without an aide. This week will be mostly spent on further testing of the kids to see what they know and what needs to be worked on. I can't believe all the stuff kindergartners have to do now! I just remember coloring, playing with toys, and having fun...now they work, work, work! I certainly hope Cam makes it through all that he's expected to get through! (Can you tell I'm WAY more nervous about this than Cam is!?)
Overall I wasn't that worried about him leaving...just him being left behind the other kids. Having a child who isn't developmentally up to date with his peers is hard!! Especially for someone like me who is so perfectionistic. I guess I just have to let him learn and grow at his own pace and not worry too much about it. But it's going to be hard!
I did get the news I wanted...he WILL be in the morning session!! YAY! Now we'll just have to figure out the babysitting situation. More stress to come!!
And now, as a special treat for reading my extra long blog, that cartoon I TRIED to scan two weeks ago, but now all colored and pretty...and READABLE!! :)

The Ball is Rolling....

Today I had my meeting with the place that will be providing an in school aide for Cam next fall. We went through his development and made a plan. I'm so relieved. They will be taking care of most of the paperwork....although I did sign my name to a lot of papers. He'll be getting other helps through this company too. They will help keep his school goals up to date and keep his learning going in a forward direction. It went well.
After I had the meeting I came home to a message from his current teacher letting me know that another little boy bit him on the chest today. He was okay...not bleeding or whining about it, but just so I knew where the small teeth marks came from. After I got the message I called his teacher to discuss what had happened. I was worried that Cam had caused the problem and that he probably deserved it. His teacher kept apologizing for it happening....he turned around for a second and saw that the other little boy had latched onto Cam and that's when he jumped in. Cam didn't do anything to deserve it...it just happened. Luckily Cam didn't freak out for too long and he was working fine without whining. Then his teacher started to update me on the summer school situation and I mentioned that I had my meeting this morning for his extra help in the fall and his teacher commended me on doing all of this for him. I told him that I was just getting what I want when I want it and if no one else was going to stand up for my son then I was going to do it. He then laughed and told me that he likes my attitude. I said thanks and then we chatted for a while and then we finished and he apologized again. I told him that he can't control what little kids do....it's not his fault! I LOVE his current teacher and I'm not really excited for him to get a new teacher next year, but I know that he needs to grow and move on. I just hope he gets the same support that he's been getting!