It Could Be So Much Worse

Yikes! Seven months since my last post. Well, I'm easing in again, with a committment to not only read, but actually write the posts for the From Left to Write book club. It's not that I need more in my life, but I think adding more variety will make my life a little more interesting.

School just started and this certainly seems like the easiest transition to day. My wiggly young son who likes school, but has spent his share of days in the principles office, has certainly calmed down. Of course his awesome teacher doesn't hurt. He's got the same teacher as last year (he was in a 2/3 combo then) and she is truly awesome - easy going, extraordinarily smart and dedicated, and creative. Last year she actually let him have his own desk, to prevent him from getting too distracted by the other kids. A few others then asked for their own desks.

We're having other issues now, one of which is when his knee, foot, arm, etc. hurts, which always seems to occur when he's aked to help with something low on the fun spectrum I guess is how we might put it. He plays a hard game of soccer, gets hurt and can't help with the equipment. He spent all weekend with no knee pain, only to have it spring up when it was time to unload the camping gear. I admit I was not as sympathetic as my husband. The guy has been through a lot - with knee surgery for a bone infection, when he was really in a lot of pain for a long time. But he manages to get well enough to play baseball after his brother has unloaded the dishwasher. I have no doubt the pain is real in his mind, but my husband has finally jumped on the frustration bandwagon, not letting him get away with avoiding work every time. It's hard to know what the right decision is, though. Of course I don't want my baby to suffer, but I want him to be more responsible.

Keegan started 5th grade this year, and as much as he complains it's boring, it's the easiest start yet to the year. I've promised to look into the math situation (a later post), but otherwise he's on his own. They swap between three teachers - math, english (where she uses sign language and acronyms instead of English :) and spanish. Bad part is they don't get their own desks, good part is Keegan now has his backpack for biking in and one for driving. He is sooo excited about learning the sax too. I feel, though, as they kids get older, the worries will get larger. Is he living up to his potential, is he striving to please everyone versus finding his own passion, learning what he loves, likes, tolerates, hates? is he going to find that one or two friends to spend all his time with? Is my working and traveling going to have a negative impact? I frankly don't care that much what others think of my parenting, and try not to judge others. Sometimes, though, when you realize your main interaction with the kids was asking them where their lunch bags are, whether they brushed their teeth and have any homework, you just might be missing something.

I am very lucky, though, and I know it, to have healthy kids who are happy most of the time. The book we read for the book club was about a family who had to overcome serious obstacles, one of which was a denial his daughter's condition was even real.

How far would you go to advocate for your child? In January First, father Michael Shofield and his family struggle to find the right treatment for his daughter Jani, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia at six years old. Join From Left to Write on September as we discuss the Shofield's memoir January First. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.