Nathan's Special IEP

The papers I have been dreading arrived today.  Nathan's Individualized Education Program.  All six pages of it. With a paper to accept or reject it.

Ever since I went to the meeting a month ago I knew that this day would come.  I had steeled myself to the facts at hand.  The big fat envelope arrived while we were out of town.  We picked up our mail today.  There it was in all its glory.  Threatening to pop open the back flap, stretching the wherewithal of the bitter glue holding it in.

I opened it and got to page two.  And then I cried.

I have been a mom for a decade now.  Have parented two other children through preschool and the start of primary school.  Both with minor issues all their own.

But nowhere in the mom handbook does it give you instructions on how to prepare yourself when you read the words "the Committee has recommended that your child be classified as a preschool student with a disability and receive special education services".

There it was.  Loaded words that wrap up all of my fears, insecurities, wants, hopes and needs for Nathan into tidal waves of emotions.  I am that all too stressed envelope barely holding it in.

Accept or Reject the papers say.

This is where we need to be headed.  This is what he needs.  Daddy D and I sat and read through the plan, the goals and the recommendations together.  Some we are excited about.  Others we stare at and think "there is no way that OUR Nathan is EVER going to do that".  But that does not change the feelings that this provokes.

Accept or Reject.

In the end I keep trying to focus on the word special.  He needs a little bit more special in his everyday life.

Here he is-my blue-eyed, mohawked wonder, showing my friend how God made him special, he's missing a tooth!  I mean come on now, check out these pictures. He is one very special little guy!  I Accept.