Help is on the way

It's a little difficult to sit in a room with eight professional education types and listen to them talk not quite English about your child. But I listened well, and asked a lot of questions and learned quite a bit. The upshot is Margaret is just fine, a little above average cognitively, but not up to peer level on her fine and gross motor skills or her social skills. Which I already knew. The great part is that she's going to get special education services at her pre-school. And that she is going to advance to the four-year-old class come fall, and to have a fabulous teacher.

They're even going to evaluate her for more occupational therapy, to be given to her in the school setting as well. We already go to a private pediatric occupational therapist once a week. Clara went with us last week, and told me, confidentially, with her hand over her mouth, "All Tita does there is play, Mama!" Which is true, but some of that play is hard work. And all the services and help Margaret is going to get are free. She doesn't need speech therapy, which kind of astounds me. She was way above average verbally, though not with physical verbal cues. Something the special ed person will work on with her. Such as, if you make an angry face at someone, chances are that person will make an angry face at you.

But I was so relieved to have the meeting convene and then end on a positive note. I learned that many parents who hear their child needs help just refuse to accept the help or the conclusions. They expect their kid to be perfect, and don't want to hear anything but that. Kids have been withdrawn from our pre-school because the parents didn't want to hear anything but positive news. I am convinced that, with help, Margaret will be ready for kindergarten when Clara is ready, which will be in the fall of 2011.

We have discovered on line all these old Mickey Mouse cartoons from the late 1920's. They are hilarious, black and white and just wacky. I understand that Walt was involved in these cartoons. Very very funny stuff. The girls love them, and so do I.

Clara has picked out her next big purchase. She wants a bunk bed from the Land of Nod that has a double bed down below and a single bunk above. It's a very cool setup, but it costs about two thousand dollars. We can't swing that, but maybe Gene can build something similar. It's such a good idea. Margaret has claimed the bottom, and Clara wants the top bunk. Don't think this is happening for them right now.

I can hear Margaret snoring. She has snored since she was a baby. There's nothing wrong with her lungs, and she doesn't get ear infections or have any problems. But, Lord, the girl can snore!