Hope Filled School Year

September is here…and if you are a special parent, September usually brings concerns and tension for the upcoming school year. Even if everything at school went well for your child last year, the thoughts of a new teacher, maybe a new school or therapist, etc….can bring upon anxiety in all of us.

I have always done my best to take a deep breath and hope for the best with each school year. I strongly believe that if our mindset and attitude is positive from the beginning, we have reason to hope for the entire year. I have heard so many stories from families over the years that have had negative experiences with their school district when it comes to obtaining the necessary services for their child. I completely understand that the decision making during these days can be overwhelming. But at the same time, I know that if we do our best to have an open mind in this process of Individualized Education Plans, testing, specialists, and the frequent meetings we attend, that we will have a better chance of obtaining what is best for our child in the school setting.

I feel that having a “not go in fighting” attitude is very important. I realize that at times we all might not agree with every detail of school based services, but it is vital that we keep our emotions in check during this process…(I know because we have our individual opinions regarding what is best for our kids this is easier said than done).

My prayer for all of us this month is that we will have the strength to dig deep into our well of faith, and strive to see the big picture of school based services.

Understand that I am not suggesting that you don’t stand up for what your child needs in school, and making sure that the school following the guidelines of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). But I strongly feel that we should, as special parents, make every effort to meet these professionals half way. After all, our kids spend many hours a week in their care.

I’m sure every parent reading this can think of at least one school professional that has make a huge different in your child’s life. ( I know I can think of many). We must remember that they chose this profession to help and support kids—the teachers, therapists, aides, and administration. The ones that stick out in our minds are what we need to focus on…and hold on to the hope that these angels that were sent to our schools will continue to surface in our children’s lives.

We were chosen by God to be the parents of differently-abled children. Because of this, we were born with the ability to have strength that we never knew we had, and advocate for what is best for our kids. In addition to school-based services, most of our kids have multiple therapy and physician appointments after their school day. So in order to have the stamina to assist them with school demands as well as get through these appointments, we have to prioritize what we expend our energy on.

I’m a huge fan of saving my special parent energy on what matters most based on what the day or month will bring. I hope and pray that this school year for your child and for you will be filled with many positive filled days… Days when you have a clear picture of what you have the ability to accomplish with all the professionals in your child’s life, and have a vessel of reserved energy that you can draw from when you need it.

~Maria