Pleasant Surprise

If I was keeping score I'd say we (Max really) won today's IEP round 2 to 0. That's right the school gets a BIG FAT zero for their efforts this morning.

Now I know no one likes a sore winner but here's how things played out.

• As we walk into the room I am greeted by a woman who introduces herself as a Speech Pathologist. Really? Speech therapy for Max? What are you going to teach him...how to shut up? She told us she felt Max qualified for an "evaluation" due to some lisping of "s" and "z". Seriously has this woman ever been to an extended family dinner at our house? The whole family is spitting and slurring their "s" and "z" sounds (this is before the wine even comes out). We agree he can be evaluated but we do not agree that he should be pulled out of class for Speech. She actually agreed with us! One point for us, zero for them. Heck it was almost as if the Therapist kicked the ball into our goal for us. She actually admitted that Max didn't really need the services being proposed!
• Now it was the resource teacher's turn. She went on and on about the progress Max has and is making, that she just couldn't be more pleased with him, etc., etc. At this point I can't help but think she too is planning on kicking the ball into our goal for us. And guess what? She did! She proposed that the kid who is reading on a 14 year old level should "graduate" out of resource reading and be returned to the classroom with his peers. At this point I decided I wouldn't fight for the "gifted" program as was suggested by the docs who evaluated Max last fall but at least he's out of that horrible room! Without a peep out of me (hard to believe, huh?) we earned another point. Point two for us, nada for them.

The rest of the meeting was really rather boring. Medical issues, concerns, etc. It's amazing how I was convinced today would be an ambush but instead my son once again proved me wrong, after all it was his hard work and desire to prove his naysayers wrong that got him this glowing report. I wish you could have seen him run out of school today shouting and giggling that he had "graduated" from "that stupid phonics class". His smile was so broad and his delight so real that in that moment I realized it truly is all about him, getting him the support he needs and being sure he has all the tools necessary for his success within reach. It is not about me and my desire to prove to the world that this child of mine is the most wonderful being God ever created (I'm his mother I've earned that right), it's not even about my need to fight the system (although I admit this trait is really pre-Max), rather it is about him, his happiness, and his self-earned success.

You go Max! You go!