Fight for your Right

About two weeks ago, Doug and I sat down and talked about a couple of things regarding Cillian and the upcoming school year. Cillian was slated to start at the same Montessori where James began 4 years ago and still attends. James was very excited Cillian was going to be there with him and was looking forward to being able to visit his little brother. In Montessori, older children can leave their classroom to visit younger siblings.

So the date of first day was arriving and I actually received an email from C's teacher asking each parent-child pair to come visit the classroom to 'explore' for 30 minute intervals before the first week began in earnest. I saw that we were scheduled for 9:30 on the 5th of September. When I received the email, there was panic instead of joy. I sat down with Doug that night and we decided I would write an email to the head of admissions. We had to be honest with the school about where Cillian was developmentally. For the parent-child class, James (and his other classmates) were walking, could sit in a chair and have snack, could talk and could use a crayon, etc. Things 18-24 month olds can do.

I wrote the email, printed the draft for Doug and we read it. Basically it told her that we remember what it was like with James in that class and we wanted to be upfront about a few things. I told her about his surgery in July, that he was doing great in PT and Speech and OT and that he was learning sign. I said he can't walk yet (at the time of the letter he couldn't) but that he was close - so close. I argued that Maria Montessori began her work with special needs children and built her model of Montessori around those findings. I argued that social modeling would benefit him greatly. That watching the other children walk, eat, and play and navigate through the classroom would be immeasurably beneficial.

I received a phone call from the school's "learning resource specialist" and we decided to meet at 8:30am on the 5th before our 30 minute exploration time. She wanted to 'observe C in a classroom environment to see how he interacts with others and the space.' She also asked me for letters from each of his therapists. I told her I would ask them for letters before I could promise them to her. They all wrote letters for Cillian and each letter described a very happy, eager little boy who was full of promise and was showing amazing growth in such a short time of therapy. One part of one letter even described his love of vehicles :) I love our therapists so very much and I am so grateful to them for these letters. I feel very, very lucky to have our team of therapists - "Team Cillian!"

We all arrived to school together just like every day but today C and I went downstairs "to the baby classes" as James says. He was SO excited Cillian had school - I think he told every single teacher he saw. "It's Cillian's first day today! He's in the baby class and I'm a Kinder so I can go see him but Helena told me to let him get used to school first." He was so proud and Cillian was too. He was so careful but excited when we walked downstairs. We met the specialist, Rosana, and we went into the 'little gym' to have his observation. In there was the bridge. THE BRIDGE.

Let's travel back in time shall we? Remember when James and I were in this class? And James couldn't do the bridge and fell down it? And I wrote the piece for the school paper about mastery and perseverance - about how James was able to learn to climb up and down the bridge? Well, Cillian took one look at the bridge and climbed all the way up and then all the way down BY HIMSELF! I almost stood up and picked him up and threw him in the air and screamed I was so excited. But I sat there, barely keeping it together while she took notes. Then she had prepared some works from the classroom and he played with them and explored them. I mean, it was like he knew he had to pull out the big guns here. As James would say, "Cillian went to the distance."

He got himself in folks. The bridge did it. She told me that she was looking at a child who was perfect for this class. Even though he is a bit older than the other students, he will do beautifully. I was so happy. I had to sign a release form so that the school could communicate with the therapists in the event of an issue but I was happy to do it and the therapists all reassured me that it's standard practice. After we met with her, we explored the classroom together and he did great. It was awesome.

I had my camera with me.

Enjoy.

Before we left for school.

 

The Bridge

 

The mini-tramp 

 

The work from the classroom - you have to put the koosh ball through the hole and then retrieve it and do it again. It was modeled for him once and he nailed it.

Not there was ever a doubt in my heart kiddo, but you did it. Please remember that you never have to prove anything to me, Daddy or James because we know you are able to do it all. I am so happy you decided to share what you could do with this school today. No one could have made you do it so I know you were ready to share yourself. Since you are ready, I'm ready.

Parent-Child 2014-2015 here we come.

Love you CillyBear.