Thanks guys...seriously. I feel like I sound so whiney and overwrought over the Smacky situation but for whatever reason it's been tough on me. I've learned that it's hard to trust your instincts when another human's well-being is at stake. Because what if I was wrong? But for now, for this time, I was in the ballpark, and things are going to work out quite nicely.
Today was Smacky's last day with his current preschool...his teacher beckoned me when she saw me in the hallway -
I'm shocked, she says. I wish you had talked to me sooner.
I hadn't realized how she might take this so personally, and I really like her. I informed her about the test results and recommendations - that he'll have quite a bit of therapy and it will be easier to have them pull him out of class at the other school than run around all week here and there.
You know, I've seen kids like him - years and years worth - and they outgrow this. They just grow out of it. They all do.
Wait - grow out of what? She always told me he was fine there, even when I pushed for more information. Then I felt even worse. Does she feel like she should have seen something or been able to do something? She knows nothing of his birth trauma, prematurity, nothing of his history of anxiety, and when I once tried to tell her during a hurried phone call it got glossed over. I never told the school because at the time I didn't realize how important that information may be. And at the time of registration, last winter, I hadn't fully grasped what was going on with him. How do you convey "I think something might be going on with him developmentally but I'm not sure what" on a form?
You know, even the observer told me that she saw nothing wrong with him.
Oh boy. That observer was just shushing her because she wrote a detailed report stating otherwise...keeping that to myself, I thanked her and the aide and let them know I hoped to see them again in the future with the twins. And we got the heck out of there. On the way to the car Smacky showed me a huge scratch on his finger where one of the boys in his class rammed him with a tricycle. We talked and confirmed it was probably an accident and that there was an apology. Do you feel happy that you don't have to come here anymore? I asked.
YES!!!!! he jumped up and down. Are you happy to go back to school to Ms. S' class? YES!!!!
End of chapter.
***
Tomorrow we're having an awesome afternoon playdate with Sam and his awesome Mommy whom I love. Then we've got a birthday party on Saturday. S leaves for London on Sunday.
Back to normal!