Just when I thought things were getting better....
I find out that is not the case. :( Ok, so today was Natalia's first day at her new class. She was evaluated by the early intervention people for delays in her speech and cognitive abilities and it was determined that she was eligible for their program. Now, I think most people know this, so this is not new. She had been evaluated by the Children's Guild (by Easter Seals) in Salem earlier in the year, and was seeing a lady there for a few months when that lady quit and we were moving, so we decided to quit that program and go through the state. The other program cost $70 per visit (that was WITH a discount), and the state program is free. This was not a factor for Tyler though in choosing which program to go with, so we first went with Children's Guild, but since moving, and since that lady quiting, I felt like we should consider going with the state. I had heard good things about their program, and I was not at all concerned in placing Natalia with them until today. Her first class was today, and I knew before hand that the class would have other kids in it who had varying disabilities. They said there would be kids with downs syndrome, and some could have other physical disabilities, as well as kids like Natalia. And although probably not the best thing, not so bad. I remember when I was looking for a preschool for Natalia and I walked into the one I chose for her, how nice it was and how nice the teachers all were, I was so excited for her to be going to that school, I signed her up right away and although it was expensive, I knew that was where she was supposed to be. Today, I felt the exact opposite with this new situation. After staying with Natalia the whole class, I realized that this is NOT the best thing for my daughter. The teachers seem mean and burnt out. I do not trust them with my child. It did not seem like a nice place, or like ANYONE wanted to be there. I felt so uncomfortable and upset about it the whole time I was there. I am so disappointed I cannot begin to express my feelings and how difficult this has been and continues to be. Every time I think we have figured out what to do, something goes wrong. The ONLY thing I have been happy with has been Natalia's preschool. That place has been fantastic, I am so happy I at least found them. Now we are faced with another dilemma, but I think we have decided on what to do. I still need to run this first part by Tyler because we had not decided this yet, but I think we will put Natalia in summer school (with her current preschool). As well, I am going to ask her teachers if they know any private programs in Portland that we can go through, and I'm gonna ask them if they know any books or can point me towards ANY information on what I can do myself to help my daughter. If they don't, I'm going to call the Children's Guild and see if they have a branch in Portland, or know of a program like that up here. Once we get that information, we are going to put her back into a private program, damn the cost. We will have to figure out a way to pay for it, but that should not be difficult, or not very anyway. What is more important to me than my daughter? Ya, that is an easy question, I will do anything I can to help her and I will make sure she is in the best program that I can so that she has the best chances. I am NOT going to put her in some crappy program with crappy teachers and hope that she learns something. I would detest being there if I was a kid, I detested it as an adult, I can only imagine that the kids hate it even more. Grr... Anyway, it's been a rough day.
As well, my brother called to chat with me, his ex-girlfriend visited him this last weekend and he is feeling confused AGAIN! She keeps doing this to him, and he still loves her, so it is very hard for him too. We both had rotten days, so we got to spill our guts to each other. That was kind of nice and a little weird cause I don't think I've cried to that brother in an especially long time. It is good to be friends with my brother and be able to talk about these kind of things, even if he doesn't completely understand cause he has no children, he understands from the perspective of the kid that was in special ed throughout highschool and how much he hated it himself. BTW, he was in special ed cause he was hyper-active and back in those days, they put them in special ed cause they were too disruptive to the rest of the class. He got to be in class with the mentally retarded kids even though he is exceptionally smart, kind of weird how they did that stuff back 30 years ago. Anyway, it was an interesting conversation.
I saw a kitty on the way to the store today who almost got ran over. I stopped to get the kitty, but he would not come to me, and was hissing at me. He was so sad and meowing like crazy, but I could not save him. :( It was such a cute kitty, he was orange stripy and fluffy. Definitely a kitten, but I didn't know what to do for him. I hope he found his mom and did not get run over. :(
Tomorrow is Natalia's last day of preschool. This summer we're gonna go do fun stuff, like going to the zoo, and going on pony rides at the coast, etc. Now that she will be in summer school, we may not be able to do AS much, but we can probably go most Fridays, or something like that. Hmm...
Well, that is it for me this evening, I've got to remember to talk to Tyler before he leaves for work tomorrow. :) And I fixed him his lunch which is very kind of me, lol.
As well, my brother called to chat with me, his ex-girlfriend visited him this last weekend and he is feeling confused AGAIN! She keeps doing this to him, and he still loves her, so it is very hard for him too. We both had rotten days, so we got to spill our guts to each other. That was kind of nice and a little weird cause I don't think I've cried to that brother in an especially long time. It is good to be friends with my brother and be able to talk about these kind of things, even if he doesn't completely understand cause he has no children, he understands from the perspective of the kid that was in special ed throughout highschool and how much he hated it himself. BTW, he was in special ed cause he was hyper-active and back in those days, they put them in special ed cause they were too disruptive to the rest of the class. He got to be in class with the mentally retarded kids even though he is exceptionally smart, kind of weird how they did that stuff back 30 years ago. Anyway, it was an interesting conversation.
I saw a kitty on the way to the store today who almost got ran over. I stopped to get the kitty, but he would not come to me, and was hissing at me. He was so sad and meowing like crazy, but I could not save him. :( It was such a cute kitty, he was orange stripy and fluffy. Definitely a kitten, but I didn't know what to do for him. I hope he found his mom and did not get run over. :(
Tomorrow is Natalia's last day of preschool. This summer we're gonna go do fun stuff, like going to the zoo, and going on pony rides at the coast, etc. Now that she will be in summer school, we may not be able to do AS much, but we can probably go most Fridays, or something like that. Hmm...
Well, that is it for me this evening, I've got to remember to talk to Tyler before he leaves for work tomorrow. :) And I fixed him his lunch which is very kind of me, lol.