Our life at the moment is filled with schedules, routines, and lots of ABA, PT, OT, and Speech. It doesn’t feel like a drag for us, as we have worked hard to find these particular set of amazing teachers. I know they are our angels. As we are getting ready to attend our first IEP, and say goodbye to these amazing teachers in our lives, I can’t help but ache for the loss we’re going to feel when they are no longer visiting us daily, in our home, encouraging, cheering, motivating, and teaching us how to understand.
Once our child turns three, she no longer qualifies with Early Steps, but in turn the school district takes over. Harsh reality, but I am ready. We have been learning and learning and gaining strength by reading your stories about school, IEPs, and changes. These teachers have also become our friends, who understand like no other. They patiently accept my child and gently help. In a few months, they will be saying their goodbyes to our family and I will be forever grateful and cherish all the memories!
Memories of getting my daughter to speak again, helping her use her words to communicate frustrations, opening the door to them and hearing my daughter squeal their name in delight, watching her tentatively get closer and closer to them and learning, colors, shapes, bubbles, peek a boos, silly stories, so many memories. Words simply cannot express my gratitude. We’re grateful for these character building type of people, and I pray that there are more like them in this world.
Now it’s time to let them go, and start another chapter. We’ll make them proud. My daughter has been in training and she’s about to rule the world! Here we come IEP, this family is ready for you! As I finish this post and sigh a little teary eyed, my two year old looks at me and asks “what’s the matter?” and I smile, because if you’re an autism parent, you know exactly why.
Comments
Brent
Keep up the great progress! She is getting such living support! Great job!!!!
Brent
Loving support!!! That’s what I meant
Jenn
Thanks Brent!!
Julia
Your post reminded me of how panicked I felt the summer before my son transitioned from First Steps to and IEP/Developmental Preschool. I worried about his transition on every level and feared that attending a classroom program rather than in-home therapy would be too much for him.
What we found is that at school his therapists/teachers were just as loving, just as committed to his progress, and just as understanding of his needs as his First Steps therapists had been. Now finishing his 2nd year of that program, his school caregivers are just the same sort of family to us that his First Steps therapists were in those early years. The progress he’s made, particularly in this past year, has been astounding.
I hope your experience is equally as good!
Jenn
Hi Julia! That is so comforting to read, I am definitely worried of losing our people and our new people not understanding and losing sleep over the transition. I hope our experience is just as outstanding as yours, we’ll keep you posted! Thank you for the well wishes!