“I have an unfortunate personality.” ~Orson Welles
If you read both my posts and the comments, you will see that my last post went from my proclamation that I don’t “get” naturopathy or homeopathy to gay marriage to the ex-magician now major debunker James Randy. Just because I don’t get those therapies does not suggest that I think they are not real. As mentioned, I do believe acupuncture works, but I have no clue how (nor do I really think anyone does). And I fully believe that some of the associated therapies work, but like I said, I don’t get them. I don’t understand how any homeopathy can work. But then, I am not all that sure how my car works, but it does. I do believe in evolution, but I also know that dinosaurs and people co-existed (Hanna-Barbera repeatedly proved that during my childhood). As for same sex marriage, that doesn’t faze me in the least, it’s no sex marriage that is disturbing. Oh, and I have met James Randy several times (during my magician stage, that was fun) and heck, he is usually right, but then, I don’t get that either. And I swear to you that I did not know, until this instant when I looked for a link to him, that he posted this homeopathic challenge two days ago!
I am trying Twitter, and I now have 8,622 followers! Oh, wait, you can tell, right? Ok, maybe a baker’s dozen. Now I need to learn how to see who responds and says what to my tweets and what it means to follow others. I’ll get there, or Mom will want a refund on all those geek tuitions she and Dad paid …
Yesterday was road trip day. Here is a picture of me and Pearlsky visiting David, her first time there. The staff first wanted to know what residence (in that facility) she lived in! I was going to leave her there with the weekend staff … but, well, I didn’t. They all thought that David looks like me or Pearlsky and he look alike. I think they are all a bit touched. None of us are at our best in this picture, but there you go.
Then there is the IEP in two days. My notes are growing, along with the copies of emails and documentation I am taking. I am a bit concerned about my demeanor in the meeting. I don’t get loud, nor nasty, but I do have a knack for turning someone’s words against them (not only in email, but on the fly) and just nailing them. I am not proud of this, necessarily, but it is a gift, I guess. In preparation, I called the wonderful Coordinator of Special Education for the high school. As I have said before, this is her first year at the school, she has a son with a disability (hence she “gets” it), and we definitely respect each other. We had a nice conversation and I told her that I may lose it at this IEP, how I am tired of many things. She said she fully understood.
I am telling you that I may go after someone and want you to know that you are the only one that will be there that will be able to stop me if I get going.
Okay.
So I think you should either sit across from me and make a face or say something, or sit next to me and just kick me.
Really?
Yes, actually. That would work.
Great! There have been many IEPs where I have wanted to kick the parent! You got it.
Of course I will tweet or post as I limp out of the meeting …
There have been many IEP meetings where I wanted to kick the staff. (And I’m sure some of them would have loved to have kicked me back!) I, too, have the knack for being annoyingly quick witted 🙂 My rule is that if you contradict yourself, I win. They hate it when I point out the fact that that they cannot claim that my child is too disabled for a mainstream room and at the same time claim he is not disabled enough for certain services.
Keep fighting the good fight for Pearlsky! I hope the school realizes that you know your child best and gives her everything she needs.
Erin~ survivor of countless IEP meetings
I wish you’d fly out here and get crazy at my IEP that comes up in April or May. Or maybe you could come out here and kick some ass about a couple of dilemmas I have regarding the bus and a change in classes/teachers. I can’t even write about it I’m so tired of the whole shitty thing —
I just wrote the most selfish comment — so here’s another one.
May the IEP surprise you and be a model of efficiency, common sense and forward-thinking.
Love that your coordinator sounds like a real person! Good luck in the meeting, don’t get too many bruises!
We used Feldenkrais on Monkey when he was a toddler. At the time, he didn’t respond to traditional therapies due to his extreme sensory issues. The Feldenkrais worked wonders and helped him to make a lot of progress. To this day, though, I don’t get it at all. It all sounds very hokey, but whatever works…
“As for same sex marriage, that doesn’t faze me in the least, it’s no sex marriage that is disturbing.” Well said, my friend.
The staff at David’s residence are right – your children do look a lot like you! What a great family photo.
Good luck at your IEP meeting. Kick a few people at the school, will you? I’m about to get the ball rolling for Monkey’s first IEP, and I’m overwhelmed out of my mind. We need more experienced parents like you to do some shin kicking.
Best of luck to you, glad you have someone there to help keep you from going over the top. Keep the ad hominem to yourself (and us here) and I’m sure you’ll be fine.
From that photo I’d say David looks more like you than Pearlsky. David and Pearlsky don’t look much alike to me but with you between them there is a definite resemblance, you all three have similar planes to your faces. There’s also that you all three look Ashkenazi, so maybe that’s what we who don’t see your faces in motion are seeing.