HIT ICE!!

Elise LOVES Hockey!!! I mean LOOOOVES Hockey!! We went to a Gwinnett Gladiators game last year and I don't think she tore her eyes from the ice. Whenever someone body checked another player she would cheer "Hit Ice!", eyes alight! She got to meet the mascot, Maximus, the Gladiator's Lion and it was magic.

Scroll forward a bit, and she enjoys watching hockey on TV. She would eat popcorn and keep her attention entirely focused.

At first I thought it was the ice that had such a power over her. No. Nope. Nuh-uh. I turned on figure skating and Amelia was coo-ing instantaneously over the princess clothes and the pretty music. Elise looked terribly perplexed and asked "Stick?" Nope, no sticks. They just dance. She snorted in disgust and left in a huff. She takes figure skating as a personal affront and refuses to stay in the same room when it is on. I am quite serious.

We went again to a Gladiator's game this year, and took my parents. Elise cheered and whooped whenever there were body checks and the hoots of approval went up for the fights. (What's a hockey game without fights??)

Maximus was too far away for us to make it to shake his paw this time, and Elise was SO disappointed. She loves him and, if possible, was even more excited to see him than the game. I was so thankful that it was $5 kids jersey night, and I grabbed one for her. She has slept in it almost every night since.

I wish you could see her watching hockey. She is such a pleasure to watch. Even if you didn't like hockey, if you went with Elise I guarantee that you, too, would be cheering, "Go, HIT, ICE!!!" Her excitement is like a force field, lighting up everyone with its power!!

Haircuts- The Drama, The Trauma

I was given hair-cutting lessons, a pair of scissors, and a pair of clippers for my wedding shower from my mother-in-law. I have cut Ethan's hair since we were engaged. I've cut the kids' hair from the time of their first hair cut, with maybe 2 exceptions.

It has saved me a considerable amount of money. I never minded and while the midnight realization of needing a hair cut is enough to give you an anuerism, it is certainly more practical than trying to schedule a hair cut with Buffy the day of something important.

When I had daughters, I truly believed that my hair-cutting services would be needed much less than my son or husband and they would be virtually stress free. Wow, was I wrong.

My poor girls do not have the luscious locks required for the long, no cut, braided, DONE hair. They ALL have Dandelion Hair, which results in me keeping their hair shorter than I would like to. Charlotte is still baby wiggly, so it takes a little longer to trim her bangs than it will in a couple of years. Amelia wants to see what I'm doing as I do it, with demands and requests as I'm cutting it, but she sits pretty still.

Elise asks that I cut her hair. She knows that it makes me brushing her hair in the morning better for her. However, Elise growls, spits, and thrashes as I cut. Stressful doesn't begin to cover the nausea that a haircut creates. She has a lot of sensory defensiveness and the feel of her hair being tight and then all of a sudden loose against the scissors and her scalp makes her crazy. As she thrashes, the hair that is cut fluffs out into the room, gets on her skin, and she sniffs it up her nose...did I mention that she has sensory issues?? To cut her hair, I have to use hair cutting scissors. You know they are pointy and stuff, right?? I live in desperate fear that I will cut her, poke her, or stab her somehow in these hair sessions. I have thought about taking her to a salon for a hair cut. I'm betting that they wouldn't finish the job,though, and that no amount of money would make them do it.

SO, I do it. I do it because one day every couple of months makes the morning drama of hair-brushing a little easier and the twice weekly hair washing shorter and there is less gnashing of teeth, and less wailing.

But, boy, what I wouldn't give to have safety scissors for cutting her hair!!!!!

Militant...Maybe...

I was accused today of being militant for my child's rights in the school system. This was, interestingly, after their rights had been seriously and legally encroached on.

Maybe I am hyper-aggressive for my child's rights. Maybe it's for good reason. "My name is Tiffany, I am a former teacher...it's been 6 years since my last job..." No, just kidding, but sometimes it's as good an excuse as any to see monsters in the shadows.

I was actually an inclusion teacher, to boot. I have seen teachers bump parents into "suggesting" options for their child, that they came in 180 degrees from wanting. I have seen teachers leverage with fear so they don't actually SAY that they don't want a certain kid in certain places, but they were, I assure you, in charge of the direction that a meeting went in. I admit, that I have actually done it myself. I am confident when I say that I never did it without the child's best interest in mind, but I have seen teachers do it for less than noble reasons, too.

Please excuse me if I go in to every single IEP (Individualized Education Plan) IN my fighting stance. I have seen the worst. I have been in the teacher's place. I have been in the parents' place. I have had teachers try to bump me from my plans to insist on the least restrictive environment for my child. I have had fear put to leverage on me. I have almost tabled several meetings. It is my right to stop a meeting when it is not going in the direction that I want...so that I can regroup and come back with proof, with an advocate, or with an advisor.

I have been pleasantly surprised with Elise's new school. I have not had to fight for most of the things that I wanted...that I had to fight for tooth-and-nail for in other settings. I cannot tell you how disconcerting it is to have had things handed to me on a silver platter that I had to throw my weight around for in the past. It is a change I certainly welcome.

Although right now I am having an easy moment, do not think that I have relaxed my vigilance. Do not think that I will ever allow the IDEA to be breached while I am on the lookout. I know that it is a human desire to use the EASY button in life...and I know that educators are equally inclined to use it!

If you are a teacher, please understand that it is not YOU I am fighting. Please know that I respect you. Please understand that YOU handle children's opportunities, and your decisions that you make while you are craving an easy year, will have far-reaching effects on these students' futures.

If you are a parent, I beg you, please keep the paranoia. PLEASE read the million page packet of parental rights you are offered at every meeting. Keep at least one, and READ THE DARN THING FROM FRONT TO BACK AT LEAST ONCE!!!! Please, you are the guardian of your precious child's destiny, do not allow one [lazy, selfish, tired, harried, mean-spirited, people-pleasing...you pick one] person sacrifice future options. I mean it. An open future is the biggest gift that you can give your child, special or typical.

Thanks for listening to me rant, but please understand that this militant, freaky, passionate, paranoid tirade is based in wanting and demanding the best, from all the parties involved. Honest.