Facing Grief and Finding Growth

Since her Junior Kindergarten (JK) year, youngest kid was deemed exceptional and required a special student status for classroom educational assistance. She received many hours of extra help, attention, homework and social growth lessons. As of today, October 8, 2010, the school called me to say that she has worked through all of her special education issues in her educational support program and is officially deemed at a Grade 2 if not beyond level in some of her academic and social skills areas.

Picture swings to the mother on the other end of the phone listening to this message—mouth agape, eyes wide and clutching the phone with white knuckles. All the hours, days, weeks and months that turned to years of working with our youngest child is paying off. The many nights of ensuring that homework was completed, redone and triple checked, that her room is kept organized and easy to use ergonomically. That she went to bed at a very decent hour of 7:30 pm and just a tad later on weekends. It’s all paying off.

The background to all this is the death of her bio Dad in 2006. She started school in 2007 and has been struggling with behavioural and academic issues straight through. We have been to every conceivable type of medical appointment and observation and had many helpful hands at school to help us smooth out the harder times. She has seen herself through from baby to a work in progress, or at our house known as the “growing up young lady” status. I am beyond proud and moved by her ability to change, if not soar, to the heights I know she can reach.

To every parent who tries to help their child, keep at it. Today’s Thanksgiving Message and blessing is--we can receive the gift we hope for if we just keep trying. Peace folks.