Shoes On The Floor

It’s the little things in adoption that tell you how far you’ve come with your child. Leaving shoes & socks on the family room floor...this small action speaks VOLUMES of how far my girly has come. Just last year she started going barefoot in the house, but she would carry her shoes with her. But now nearly two years home and she FINALLY feels safe enough to not hide her belongings in her room. She doesn’t need to keep them close “just in case”. No one is going to take them when she isn’t looking. And despite my ocd urge to pick them up, they will stay right as they are until she needs them tomorrow because that is what building trust looks like: chipping away to find a space in her heart. It is EXHAUSTING work but then something like this happens and you know it’s all worth it.

. #teenageadoption. #downsyndromeadoption. #shoesandsocks. #buildingtrust #celebrateeveryvictory. #beyondexhausting. #alwaysworthit.

First Week of School

Just look at this handsome third grader and beautiful eight grader!

These two have put in a lot of work through the spring and summer learning new skills and building on older ones. They are going into the 2020-2021 year with confidences they haven't had before, ready to learn with their new friends in a new way...virtual learning.  😳  Sadly, our school district did not plan ahead for students with special needs in the virtual learning model.  They also failed to notify parents that they didn't have any academic plans for exception kiddos like mine, so in a frantic last minute scramble I have needed to take a Leave of Absence from work to navigate what effective academics are going to look like for us.  

Thankfully, Mila's teacher understands that virtual learning is particularly difficult, especially for kiddos with individual learning needs.  She has appropriately scheduled short morning classes only for my girl and Mila, thus far, is really enjoying it.  

Sadly, Isaac, thus far has had the opposite experience.  No resources have been provided for him to be supported with his 29 general education classmates, leaving the SIX HOURS PER DAY in the mute/unmute Hades of virtual learning to be wildly overwhelming.  On day three, he broke.  I ended his classes immediately and we ended up in a fetal position together on the couch crying. His poor little body and mind just couldn't sit in front of a screen one second more. And who can blame him?!  Back to homeschooling it is until we can figure something else out.   Thankfully, he THRIVES in the homeschooling environment. He SLAYED his math and reading this week, not to mention a letter to friend asking what their favorite part of Hamilton is.  ;) 

 

So we solider on, having no clue what the next academic weeks or months will look like. I am thankful that the daily manna that is provided for us right now includes enough paid time for me to be gone from work for a few weeks while we navigate these waters.  And for two kids that continue to flex to the crazy world that is in front of us right now.  

Mila: Mommy? Computer school or homeschool tomorrow?

Me: Both.  Computer school for you and homeschool for Isaac.

Mila: Ok!

Isaac: Pants??

Me: Not technically required...just don't step in front of Mila's computer.

Isaac: *wry smile* Ok Mommy!

End of Summer

 Part 2 of our Summer Adventures...

Port Gamble:

Point No Point Lighthouse:

Backyard Bounce House:

North Cascades:

Parks, Parks & more Parks:

Beach Picnics:

I'm glad we made our Day-trip Bucket List this year. It's been fun to visit a lot of new and exciting places that we otherwise would not have seen--even hidden little beach heads in our own neighborhood.   If COVID has taught us anything, is that it is ok to not have something to do or anywhere to go. There is value in that; but also that there is a heck of a lot to do right in our own backyard. Sometimes literally. 

The summer is now informally over and we will transition into another unknown of virtual learning. Here goes nothing...