I asked the school district to re-assess my Peanut, even though it had only been 2 years. They are required to formally re-asses the student every 3 years, but I thought that she had come so far in 2 years that she should be tested sooner.
I wish I hadn't. :(
Two years ago, on her third birthday, my Peanut tested severely developmentally delayed and was finally labeled with the horrid "Mental Retardation". She was tested in every field and area, and overall her developmental age was 6-9 months.
Two years later, on her fifth birthday, she averages 8-12 months. In my mind, she is doing SO amazing right now! She is more active, aware, alert, and mobile than ever. I guess though that what seems like huuuuuuge steps to me and our family and everyone who knows her ... really are not that big of a deal.
I know that in the scheme of things it's what WE see that matters. It's how happy and functional she is, not how she scores on paper. It's sad that the school sees her as so low, when in my eyes she is as high as the heavens.
I don't know if I'm even making sense in this post. I hate evaluations.
We used to revel in the "new perfect" that was our life. Raising a beautiful girl with multiple special needs showed us that "perfect" is all in our minds. Emily's life was perfect. It was happy, it was brilliant. She was social, outgoing, silly, and ticklish. Now we are learning to get through life without our "Perfect Peanut" in it. This is most certainly NOT a new kind of perfect.
4 comments:
(((Hugs))) I'm sorry you were disappointed with their evaluation.
Did you see this post on C. Jane today? http://blog.cjanerun.com/2008/10/guest-post-by-sister-in-law-lisa.html
I'm always amazed at your Peanut's new accomplishments. She is beautiful & perfect in her own way & nothing the evaluators say can ever change that.
Here is to progress!
and hating evaluations.....
Keep hoping, you are right it is what we see that matters, continue to be encouraged by her progress.
Thinking of you.
2 months till our next eval.
This IS huge! Try not to let it get you down! She is happy and she is progressing! And, she is such a blessing! Who really cares what the paper work says! God Bless You!
Haugh!!!! All that matters is how she measures up in Christ's eyes... and in His eyes... she is PERFECT! PERFECTLY formed inward and outward for His PERFECT plan for her life!
What do we humans know?? We wear our hair pulled up tight and dawn our glasses, pull out our expensive Monte' Blanc pens and leather ataches and because we have a farmed 8x10 certificated hanging on the wall that deems us with a level of worldly knowledge which acredits us to evaluate Gods noblist creatures, especailly one that He has touched and deemed extra special as Peanut!
How dare we and who cares of the human evaluation!
We love you Perfect Peanut!!!!
Post a Comment