Tomorrow Corey and I will visit the special school for their open day. We had another meeting with the regions school psychologist and he feels Logan would be better off there instead of mainstream. He said you have to take into account that he has a bowel disease, severe speech delay and is developmentally behind. He told us it only takes one child to tease him and it will send him further backwards.
I spoke with him for nearly 2 hours and totally agreed with every scenario he went through but I still have a pit in my stomach.
My head says it's best for Logan but my heart is saying no. That's not my son.
I want my four boys to be at school for that mothers day photo.
I can't just go and have lunch with 3.
I have 4.
I don't want him to be different to his brothers.
Won't that be worse for him knowing he's segregated???
I wish I had an easy answer.
But. I. Don't.
I hope tomorrow helps me to decide but dread telling him. He's ment to start the 6 week kinder transition to primary school in 2 weeks. How can I take that away from him and say you can't go to that school now???
12 comments:
Kristen-
I know your heart is aching for Logan! Surely, this school will give Logan the extra attention he needs that a mainstream school could not give. This could be a very good thing! I said a prayer for peace for you and Corey and Logan. It's a big step for all of you! l, Dana
That's so hard Kristen. ((hugs)) I agree that it would probably be best for him with all that is going on. I don't think mainstream school would do as good of a job and a special school. They are just more equipped for these things.
Dear Kristen,
I know how hard it must be for you to have to make this difficult decision. Here in the states there is a big push to mainstream "special" needs children. In my 22 years of teaching I had many special kids mainstreamed into my regular ed. classes. With 36 students in a class, I often could not give my special needs kids all the help that they needed. I would see their confused expressions and feel badly. Although I tried to prevent it, some of the regular kids sometimes said things that I knew hurt my special kid's feelings. Logan can get the one on one attention that he needs and deserves at his new school. He will probably thrive when he is with a group of his peers who have similar needs.
I know that you are sad to have Logan in a separate school from his siblings but kids are very resilient. He will probably feel very comfortable in his new school in no time and really like it there. At least I hope so. I will keep you and Logan in my prayers. I wish you the best of luck.
Oh Kristen, I can only imagine how you are feeling. I have not been in the same position as you so clearly have no idea on the subject, however one of my girlfriends has a child who is deaf. She has a cochlear implant so my friend decided she wanted her to go to a "normal" school like her sisters. She often finds that even though her daughter has an assigned Intergration aide, often these aides get utilised elsewhere in the classrooom like dealing with the naughtier kids or just general helping out the other students. She has had her daughter in two different schools and this seems to be the norm. I guess in this case she is lucky that her daughter can generally follow the rest of the class, but if her needs were more severe she thinks that a specialised school would be better.
You can only trust your instincts and know that whatever choices you make for Logan, you have made them out of love.
Take care
Megan
PS sorry i rambled!
Kristen,
My prayers are with you and your family. It truly sounds like this new school with be such a positive experience for Logan and like grammy staffy said the one on one attention he'll receive will be so much more beneficial than a mainstream school.
I know this is such a difficult decision for you and your husband but no matter what, Logan is so lucky to have such a wonderful mommy, daddy and 3 great big brothers. He'll always know you have his best interests at heart.
Blessings,
Robin :-)
This is a hard place to be in as a parent. It's hard when the reality of child life isn't the same as our dream for their life. Logan needs extra help and you have found a place that can give him that. That is wonderful. And as hard as change is for kids if it isn't working out you can always do something different. I hope that your next visit at the school helps you really make your decision. Say a prayer before you go. You are going to know what to do, I just know it.
Hey one cool thing is you get TWO mothers day lunches instead of just one - just like my Mama!
Thinking of you lots
Abigail in France, aged 2
I know this has to be such a difficult time. Hopefully he will really enjoy the other school, and he'll get to tell his brothers about all the cool things he gets to do and learn when he gets home. Good luck on telling him.
Hi Kristen
Sending you extra love and hugs as you make this decision. I will pray that you can find a solution that you are at peace with.
Love
Elise
Hello again Kristen,
I just wanted you to know that you and Logan are still in my thoughts and prayers. Let us know what you decide and how you are doing. Love, Lura
Thanks for your lovely wishes. Well the school was lovely and it WAS perfect for Logan. I didn't like the hours as they were start at 9.30 and finish at 3. That would be tricky as my other kids start at 9 and finish at 3.25, and kinder is 8.30 till 1.30, but I'd find a way to get around everyone if I had to. I could be in the car all day long picking up kids.!!!
I think I just have to get my head around the fact that they may not all be at the same school. It's just hard when Logan is constantly talking about going with Chayse and Brodie to there school soon.
Anyway we have started the paper work to see if he gets accepted and we'll go from there. I can leave it as late as Dec. to make a final decision and can change at any time if we like. They were very accomodation and said nothing is set in concrete.
Oh how my heart goes to you. I wish for you the right decision and the right words to speak when explaining to him.
Maybe you could take him to school on the days for the picture.
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