This might be long, and take a couple emails to do!
First, let's start with Mary (aka MIMI, the Princess of PInk). She sprouted up and is 5 ft 7, still skinny as a rail and almost 18! Her education has been all over the place. 3rd grade was the last one in the elementary school with her brothers, then across town to another one with a FABULOUS woman who was very supportive. Then to Middle School for grades 6-8. Quite possibly the worst 3 yrs of our life. She was in a closed classroom, and the teacher was trying to teach MIMI as if she were like the rest of her classmates...but they were well ahead of her. She never read the Ed Plan, and couldn't understand why I refused to make MIMI memorize the multiplication tables. HECK!! the girl can't add to 10 reliably!!!! So, that twit's final act was to say that MIMI didn't need supper program, and wrote an Ed Plan that suggested she could suddenly and miraculously take on a regular 7th grade course level with NO aide. Would you believe me if I told you that I rejected that plan in seconds, chased the mailman who delivered it down and handed him the rejection notice? yup, that was me. The State Spec. Ed liason called and politely asked why, and wasn't at all shocked when I told him it wasn't worth the paper it was written on. A very nice lady from the town called, we chatted about the plan, she sighed a lot, and put MIMI in a summer program while I was on the phone, told me not to worry that the teacher had quit (was it something I said...like "I will have to check this with my lawyer, but I do believe what you are saying is against state law:?). New teacher did 7th and 8th grades, still not great. At least the ed plan was reasonable, but again, seemed ignored. Come time to move to 9th gr, and the teacher from the High School listened carefully, and said "she is too low to come to my room. She has to go out of district." YES!!! The director for that program called me, we chatted a lot as she had been the director of Spec. Ed wihen MIMI was younger, knew her and her potential. She was AGHAST at what had happened, and put MIMI in a class with 7 other kids where our girl confressed "MOM, I am the ONLY one who can read a book without pictures!" She was the class leader, and role model. They even found her a job with the local Chamber of Commerce that paid MONEY. She was over the moon! We moved her to a class with more girls, and more on her academic level that would also have a bigger life skills, vocational component. She is the only girl in the class who is NOT autistic on some level. She again is used as the role model for social skills. She LOVES it. She is rather annoyed that the 2 little jobs she has outside the classroom she isn't being paid, but that's ok. I told her it was community service, a concept she knows from Scouting. Last summer she was at Boy Scout camp for 2 weeks, and had 2 other girls with her for the 2nd week. This year we have 4 other girls with us! She is very excited. All in all, she is doing well.
Tommy is now 15, and is in his 2nd year of working at Boy Scout Camp. He had a tough summer last summer as a CIT (counselor in training), survived it and was voted best CIT. The shooting sports people wanted him this summer, but he has to be 16 to work there. Instead, he is at Trailblazer, the program for new Boy Scouts to teach them their basic outdoor skills. He is so level-headed at times, and then such a goof the next minute. But that is part of being a teenage boy, I guess. Heloves being at camp, and can't wait to get there every year. He is
1 badge away from getting Life rank, and has plans already for his eagle project. Now if he pulls it off. Had a girlfriend for a couple weeks till she put down a friend of his. That was the end of her. He too shot up and is about 5 ft 7. Still skinny, some days eats constantly. School has not been his friend, but he finally got the message about doing the homework every day...I hope... He survived, barely 9th grade. He had a horrible science teacher who assumed that no one did homework, unless you put it in his hand and stood there while he read it. What high schooler does that? Damn few it seemed. Even the smarter kids didn't do as well with this teacher. Not to worry, I complained. But he is the Dept Head, so that was a wasted phone call and letter, I am sure. Tommy is also the family computer geek, and started to build a new computer down cellar, but too many pieces from different places that don't match up has him at a stand still. Perhaps his miniscule pay this summer will go to that...but he has started thinking about cars, so who know?Bobby is 14, and is going from a chunky short guy to my height (5 ft
4) and slimmer. Again, while he sorta did the homework, it didn't always get turned in. so his 8th grade yr wasn't fun. His academic supports are in place for next year, so we shall see. He is a typical teenager...helpful one minute, then wouldn't give you the sweat off his brow the next. He will play Legos with Gabe the Babe most times, has taught him the importance of staying hidden in Hide and Seek (FINALLY!!), and will play dinosaurs with him. 2 seconds later, Bob is on the computer cheerfully blowing things up and killing aliens, quite successfully, I am told. He has quite a gang of friends with similiar interests, and they are very supportive of each other.I hope he will be with some of them next year.With Tommy at camp all summer, he has sorta started being more responsible, but the minute you compare him to Tommy, he stops. sigh....He is my buddy though, and will work with me anytime, if I make it fun.Niece Kristen is 11, and entering 7th grade. Still smart, a VORACIOUS reader who had some tough teachers in the 6th grade. Unlike her cousins, she got involved in several afterschool clubs. AND LOVED IT!!!! She has grown, but not the shoot up of her cousins. She is getting more independent, but still will hang with me often.
Gabe the Babe, our preemie, is the size of most 4 yr olds, yet will be
6 in Sept. He has taught himself to read, and is baffled by pre- Kindergarten classmates who can't even read the word "EXIT", and are just now learning to print their names. His favorite word this week is "whatever" said in a very resigned tone of voice. Very cute, still cuddly every now and then. Loves to hug, still.DuH did a year in the sandbox (iraq) in 2005. A long year. He just finished SGT Major's academy, and will be retiring sometime after the
1st of the year. 30 yrs in the Army. He thinks he is coming home to stay. NOT!!! Still doing too many funerals for the ceremonial unit. He is involved in the VFW, and that takes up some of his "spare" time.As for me, I can't remember when I last sewed. I have been doing crocheting of dish scrubbers, so am not entirely uncreative. Scouting has taking a bigger chunk of my time, and while I like it....sometimes the people make be want eliminate them retroactively from the gene pool. But that is true of any organization, I guess. I had a hysterectomy as I had a massive fibroid in January and am NOT enjoying menopause for a 2nd time. Seems one ovary was post-menopausal, and the other one not. Hot flashes the first time wasn't fun, and even less so the 2nd time around, in case you were wondering..
MSM and MSD are still here. Mom takes about 40 pills a day (better living thru chemicals) had a hip replacement and just got over having shingles for the 2nd time in her life. Dad was working until April, then got laid off. He still golfs and walks, and serves on the town Planning Board. He is deafer than Mom, but swears she mumbles. whatever... MSM and 82 and MSD 81, so each day with them is a gift.
That's all I have time for, have to finish laundry (what else is new?) so we can pack for summer camp.
Hugs to all Marian and the staff of Cracked Assistants...