OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS
We are grandparents raising children of our children, a/k/a/ - "The New Age Caretakers".
We learned from our parents how to parent and since that relationship with our parents was so long ago, what can we teach the children of today to deal with and live in today's world and times. In summary, we can only teach what we have learned, experienced and know. And we can teach them what we know with love. That is the most powerful element we can give to these children and by far the easiest resource to tap; for our love for these children is naturally in place.
We do have some special challenges with these children sometimes. They may come to us feeling unsure of their future; and it is a test for us to run on ourselves - we represent their past, their heritage and yet we must find a way to equip them for a future we may not completely envision as yet. It will come; take one day at a time.
One of my grandsons was diagnosed as bi polar a year after he came to live with me. This disability changed my way of thinking and my approach to seeking his best interests both at home and at school and brought we directly into contact with Special Education and a professional support system I had become unfamiliar with. "Special Education is a service, not a place" has become my theme song. After obtaining a diagnosis and treatment plan a parent needs to work with the school system to devise and IEP, or Individual Education Plan for the student to address and define his special needs and to plan for services he may need to suceed at school. Sounds easy? Can be if you and the school/district agree on his best interests and the definition of his needs.
With my grandson's school district it has become, Inclusion vs. Exclusion to meet his needs - and we disagree on the boundaries. We met for several mediation sessions and we could not come to agreement. I filed for an Administrative Hearing and before that is heard, we have agreed to a more indepth evaluation of the complete child. We will then author a new IEP out of the evaluators' recommendations and if we again cannot come to agreement, we go to hearing.
In the meantime we continue on our day to day life and this boy is improving at the pace of a snail and I appreciate hearing from others the differences they see. I am sad that his childhood seems to be such a struggle and I envy the "normal" children around him who have much less of a struggle for he so wants to be accepted and liked among his peers. He plays sports and that has helped him more than any other therapy. That is a gift to us both.
