Parenting pains.

Today was a hard day in parenting.  Our youngest has been under an evaluation for speech services through the local school system.  Apparently speech therapy with children,(at least in our area) has a long waiting list of at least 6 months if you pay privately, so we were urged to see if she could qualify for services through the public school system.  We have been going through the process for about two months now, and today was our meeting for them to tell us their findings and if she qualifies.  To make a long story short, she qualifies, and to qualify you really have to have a profound need, so we are a little rattled, because we didn't think it was that bad.  Her issue is with articulation.  The other areas were fine.  I know it's not really that big of a deal, but it still upsets me.  Seriously, I almost started crying during the meeting, and my husband turned about a million shades of red.  I know, I know.  Speech isn't a big deal.  It's the whole label on it.  It's under the special education umbrella and considered a handicap.  I'm also frustrated that our pediatrician kept blowing me off when I brought up my concerns with her talking.  I should have gone with my gut from the start, and pushed for an evaluation sooner.  I am by no means saying it's his fault, as I am sure he sees  overreacting moms every day, and face it, doctors have about 10 minutes of that with their patients at a visit.  I know all of this is caused from all of the ear infections, and that I should just be happy she doesn't have hearing problems, critical disease, etc etc.  This can be corrected.  But still it's hard not to beat ourselves up, and wish she didn't have to do this, and wonder if we did something wrong.   Moms, if you ever have concerns, just go with your gut.

Twice a week she will go over to a school near our house and work with the specialist.  They can increase it or decrease it, if needed.  The lady who does it, is a member we know from our local pool, so that was nice seeing a friendly face.  She told me I look just like Betty Draper from Mad Men.  This made me laugh, and I felt the need to tell her I didn't drink or smoke while pregnant with Emily, like Betty did. This lady can be my BFF though for thinking I look like her though.

I will say as a tax payer it is nice that we will be able to utilize such services for free, and we still do not have to attend the public schools.  If she didn't qualify, she still would need speech, and then we would have to wait forever, and then pay $40 a session at least twice a week or more.  Free works for me.

The meeting took a lot longer then I thought it would, so I just ended up having to call out from work, which was probably better that way.  My mind was definitely else where.  I took care of some errands, but did get around to that pedicure.  It was lovely by the way.  It's also good I stayed home, as I had to go back over to see the speech people, because they have a new computer program that they are not used to yet, and it didn't print off one of a zillion consents I had to sign, so they called  for me to come back and sign. 

My grandmother will be going back to a nursing home to start rehab tomorrow, so I am happy she is improving.  She's a strong woman.  I am trying to focus on everything that is positive, because I know I have a lot to be thankful for.