Why We Opted Out Of Extended School Year

When Liam was born, we were introduced to a whole new world, and a whole new lingo. IFSP, IEP, LRE, and ESY became everyday words for us. Just like any other child, having a child with extra needs can be difficult at times, and navigating the school years is probably the most stressful thing to deal with!

From birth until age three, children who have special needs are given an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), which helps the child with development, and helps the family with services they need to support them. We live in Pennsylvania, and Liam qualified for Early Intervention. He received weekly therapy from three different therapists within our home until his third birthday, then transitioned to the preschool years with an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Suddenly, we had to stress over LRE (Least Restrictive Environment), Inclusion, and ESY (Extended School Year). 

When you have a child who has extra needs, so many questions fill your head. Am I doing enough? Am I overwhelming my child? Am I making the right decision? What is the RIGHT answer? I know I tend to stress over every single decision I have to make, and I know I'm not alone. Sometimes you just have to weigh the pros and cons, and go with your gut. YOU know your child best!

The Last Day Of The Strangest School Year Ever

If this had been a typical school year, we would have had our last day of school on Friday. The kids would have headed off to school that morning full of excitement. They would be anticipating the fun Summer ahead of them, but also a bit bummed to say goodbye to friends and beloved teachers. Once those tears were shed over the last goodbyes, they would have wiped them away, and we would have celebrated after everyone was home. We would have taken the traditional last day of school picture, where you can just SEE the excitement on their faces, and kicked off Summer Break with ice cream and summer gifts. But nothing about this school year was normal!

Instead, the last day of school as the knew it was March 13th. It ended so abruptly. Their belongings were left behind, and they didn't even get a chance to say goodbye. As they left school on that ordinary Friday, they had NO idea that their lives were about to be turned upside down. Students, teachers, and parents were thrown into unknown territory, and everybody's limits were tested over the next three months.

When social distancing first began, I think we all believed that life would be back to normal within a few weeks. But as the weeks ticked by, we began to lose hope, and sure enough, traditional schooling was done for the school year. Although there are so many worse things in life, I told my kids that it was okay to feel sad about the abrupt end of the school year. I have three kids who love school, and they were in the midst of wonderful school years with wonderful educators. They spent three long months missing their teachers and friends. Liam didn't have an open house or an art show. Lexie didn't have her Spring chorus concert or Medieval Fair. Field Trips and Field Days were canceled. The last few exciting weeks of the school year never happened. Yearbooks and class shirts never got signed. There was absolutely NO closure, and that's a tough thing to process!

A Week in the Life of a Big Family + Life with Down syndrome {Week 3}

Can you believe it's already the last week of January? January used to go by so slowly, but that just isn't the case anymore. Perhaps it's because I learned how to embrace Winter, or the fact that this month has been very Spring-like, but January hasn't been bad this year!

Week 3 of January was our "boring week." We only had a few extra things to do for once. Plus, we had a much needed day off from school and work! It was so nice to have that break after the harsh return to reality after the holidays!

My goal for blogging in 2020 was to get back to posting regularly at least two times a week, then increase it from there. So far, I'm on track with my goal, and I have dozens of partially written posts to finish. In February, I have a lofty goal to post THREE times a week! I'm trying to get my blogging groove back, and share everyday life with five kids and an extra chromosome again!

The Super Easy Way To Organize Important School Papers During The School Year

When my first child started school, I was amazed by the amount of important school papers that came home each week. I just tossed them in a basket, and hoped for the best. Eventually, I spent so much time looking for the papers that I needed, that I knew I had to figure out a better system. A $1 - yes ONE DOLLAR - expanding file folder from the Target Dollar Spot was the perfect solution!

Using that inexpensive expanding file folder kept all the important school papers organized in one spot. I perfected my method over the course of the years, and now I use just one folder for all four of my children. I briefly attempted a file folder for each child, but it ended up being more work. There were more folders to organize and sort through, and it didn't make sense for my son who was in junior high, because most of his papers were sent by email or found online. I've been using the super easy one file folder method for two years now, and it works beautifully!

Today, I'm sharing my tips and tricks to make the system flow seamlessly, and the little extras I keep in the folder that I always seem to need. I highly recomment this super easy method for anybody who has a child in school!

School's Out For The Summer!

It's official! School's out for the Summer! We made it through a busy school year with four kids in four different schools, and all of their sports and activities. The reward is the 2 1/2 months of Summer Break ahead of us!

Should I Redshirt My Child (Who Has Down Syndrome) For Kindergarten...Or Not?

Almost 4 1/2 years have flown by since we first heard the words "We think he has Down syndrome." A lot has happened since then, but it doesn't feel like that many years have passed. Yet here we are, just 1 month away from Liam's Kindergarten transition meeting, and 8 months away from the start of Kindergarten. This can't be possible!

Lunchbox Love Notes 101

It all began on Lexie's first day of first grade. She was a nervous wreck about being away from home all day and even more nervous about eating in the cafeteria. As tears of worry rolled down my cheeks the night before her first day, I wrote a little note telling her how much I loved her, and I put it in her lunchbox. That simple love note immediately eased Lexie's fears and she requested a note every day that week.

What started as a simple way to help Lexie transition into being at school for a full day turned into a daily tradition. The best part is that she kept every single note that I lovingly wrote! Every day after school, she adds another note to her collection, which she keeps inside a tiny suitcase. Over 500 love notes from her mama are stuffed inside!

In all honesty, I'm dreading the day Lexie tells me to stop putting notes in her lunchbox. I know it will end at some point. After all, her beloved BunBun and Blankie that she dragged around for so many years now remain in one corner of her bed. They never leave that spot anymore. They're just a fond distant memory of her younger years. I'm bracing myself for the moment when she tells me enough with the notes, but it hasn't happened yet. 

Lexie insists that not only will she need a love note from her mama stuffed inside her work lunches but she will also need me to call her every night and say her bedtime prayer, even when she's 60 and I'm "a really really old lady." Did I mention how much I love this kid?!? (By the way, I'm totally going to print out several copies of this post and hand it to her every time utters the words "I hate you" during her teenage years!)

Lunchbox Love Notes aren't for every kid.  I briefly attempted a funny version for Dylan and he was like, "Yeah, mom, thanks, but you don't have to do that anymore." Lily, on the other hand, insists that she wants to fill her own special treasure box with lunchbox love notes from me someday. Perhaps it's a girl thing? Then again, my husband does enjoy the Gilmore Girls quotes I write on post its and stick to his lunch when I'm feeling inspired!

As for right now, Lunchbox Love Notes ARE a daily part of my life and I love it!

STOCK UP

My favorite place to stock up on notepads, pens and stickers is Target. The Target Dollar Spot always has the best selection of notepads!

Just to keep things fun, I like to buy seasonal/holiday notepads, pens and stickers, too! {Target Dollar Spot for the win, AGAIN!}

ORGANIZE

After stocking up on Lunchbox Love Notes supplies, there needs to be a designated place to store everything. I always set up a Lunchbox Packing Station at the beginning of the school year! Having everything I need in one place when I pack lunches is a HUGE timesaver!

GET CREATIVE

Are you wondering what to write each day? It's easy! I always ask myself what the one thing I want Lexie to remember about that day is and I add those details to the note.

Are we celebrating a birthday? Are we going somewhere special that night? Is there an event at school? Does she have a big test? Countdowns to holidays, birthdays, school breaks and the end of the school year are always fun, too!

I always start by writing the date at the top of the note so she can read through them one day and know exactly when they are from. And, of course, I ALWAYS tell her how much I love her!

PACK IT 

Lexie packs her lunch almost every day. When she does buy her lunch, she likes to take in her reusable water bottle and a treat, so I slip the note into a bag with those items. When she gets to lunch, she and her friends like to see what I wrote then she slips the note back into her bag until she gets home!

STORE IT 

Find somewhere special to store all the notes so they can turn into keepsakes.  Lexie uses a little storage suitcase that she got for her birthday one year, but any container would work great! Lexie always tells me that she's keeping her Lunchbox Love Notes forever!

This simple idea can be such a fun form of communication between mother and child!  Raising children in this current world can be difficult and I firmly believe it's important to show kids how much they are loved. Writing a Lunchbox Love Note is such an easy way to show them that you care each and every day. And one day, they just might end up with an entire box full of memories from their mom!

Lexie's first day of first grade seems like it was decades ago and the girl standing before me today looks more like a teenager than a child. She is growing up far too quickly, but the one thing that remains the same is the feeling of love and security that surrounds her every day. I will continuously remind her of the fact that she is loved so very much any possible way I can!

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I'm linking up for Tuesday Talk. 

The First Day of School - Kindergarten, 4th Grade and 6th Grade

Well...it happened. Summer break came to an end and my kids headed back to school. I'm the mom who actually enjoys having her kids home from school so I wasn't ready for this just yet!

Although it was a big day for all three of my older kids, it was an even bigger deal for Lily. It was her first day of Kindergarten! I truly can't believe it. Wasn't she just born?!?

Lily has been talking about going to Kindergarten since January. She was ready for this milestone and counting down the days! This mama, however, was NOT. Perhaps it's because I know how quickly time goes but each time I send one of my kids to Kindergarten it get more difficult for me.

This morning I woke up feeling all the emotions.

I found myself second guessing our decision to send her this year as the kids got ready for school. She turned 5 just before the cutoff date so she will be one of the youngest kids in her class. Maybe she wasn't ready yet. She's normally so independent and outgoing but what if she got scared or nervous or felt lonely? What if she got lost or was afraid to express her needs? I could feel the fears and the tears building but I knew I was thinking those thoughts for my own selfish reasons. She was ready and it was time to let her go.

As the minutes ticked by while we waited for the bus I could tell that Lily was feeling a tiny bit nervous, too. I put on my brave mommy face and we talked about how fun Kindergarten was going to be. During that pep talk the bus came into view. There was no more time left to prepare. As the bus came closer I just wanted to scream at Time to slow down and I wanted to cry because that giant bus was going to take my baby away from me. But there was nothing I could do. This was it.

Lexie grabbed Lily's hand and they walked toward that big yellow bus together. There was a huge lump in my throat and I could feel the tears threatening to spill over. Lily didn't even pause or look back at me but she looked so tiny as she walked toward that bus.

I couldn't even watch her climb the steps or take her seat. I couldn't watch the bus pull away. And as it rounded the corner my tears fell.  This letting go aspect of motherhood is the worst!

Needless to say Lily survived and I survived.  It definitely helps that Kindergarten is just a half day here! When I picked her up from school she seemed very upbeat and told me about her first day. She really liked her teacher, her class was full of preschool friends and she made a new friend with the same name on the bus. Recess was her favorite part! I'm so glad she adjusted well but it must have been overwhelming because she ended up taking 2 naps this afternoon! It was a BIG day full of new experiences!

Dylan and Lexie are old pros by now! I had no worries about their first day. Dylan is in full tween mode and wasn't ready to go back. Lexie, who adamantly states that nerds rule the world, was excited about her first day!

Lexie is in 4th Grade this year! It's her last year in the Elementary School. Next year she will move up to a bigger school! (Slow down, time!)

Lexie had a great day! Her teacher just had a baby this week so her class has a long-term sub. Lexie thought he was very fun and very nice. She's always so enthusiastic about school and is such a great student so I know it's going to be an easy year for her!

Dylan is officially a 6th Grader! Next year he's heading to junior high. That's so hard to believe. How did he get this big this fast?!?

Dylan doesn't share as many details as he used to but it seemed like he had a good day. This is the first year he has a male teacher for his main teacher. I'm interested to see how that plays out! Dylan doesn't love school as much as Lexie does. He is, however, a very hard worker at all times and an incredible kid. He's just more into the social aspect of his school day! He's a typical tween!

I was dreading the start of the school year because I love Summer Break so much and I didn't want it to end, but we all survived. It was a great first day for Dylan, Lexie and Lily!

So there you have it. I have three kids in three different schools and next week that number will change to four. The Mom Taxi is back in service!

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School's Out for the Summer!

It's official: School's out for the Summer! 

It was easily the fastest school year ever! I mean, I swear they just started. But as of 3:50 PM, Dylan and Lexie joined Lily and Liam on Summer Break. They reluctantly said their goodbyes to their friends and their absolutely amazing teachers, and they headed home for a Summer full of fun!

5th Grade was a tough transition for Dylan AND for me.  Everybody warned us, but I guess I was in denial.

The work load was intense and Dylan's great grades didn't come as easily this year as they have in the past. Dylan had to work hard to get good grades. He had to learn organizational skills and he HAD to study. It was a wake up call for both of us and it took several months before he found his groove.  I found myself, along with many other friends walking this path for the first time, often saying "I HATE 5th Grade!!!"

In our school district, the 5th and 6th grade building is very much like a junior high.  The kids are starting to join cliques and the rules are strict.  School isn't as much fun anymore because it isn't elementary school.

If I'm going to be completely honest, I'm not a fan of this setup. Kids in 5th and 6th grade are still kids and I feel like Dylan was forced to grow up faster than he should have this year.  I really did notice a difference between him and family members and friends his age who were attending a traditional K-6 school.  This year was about his clothes, his hair, how he looked, and girls. I certainly wasn't ready to deal with that stuff THIS early!

Thankfully, Dylan enjoyed going to school. We had a rough patch at the beginning, but he soon adjusted. He had great friends and he adored his teacher. He had an incredibly supportive teacher who helped him out along the way. I can only hope that one of my other children is lucky enough to have her for a teacher someday!

Lexie, on the other hand, breezed through 3rd Grade!

Lexie loves school!  On the two days that we forced her to stay home because she was sick, she begged to go.  It definitely helped that she had an awesome teacher who made each day fun!

Lexie excels at school. She was a "model third grader" according to her teacher and she took pride in her hard work and excellent grades. Lexie came home with fun stories to share about her teacher and her friends each afternoon and was excited to go to school every single day. Any teacher that can inspire a child in that way is a hero in my book!  I'm really hoping that Lily and/or Liam have him as a teacher in the future. If only every teacher Lexie gets could have his dedication and enthusiasm!

It was an amazing school year for Lexie!

I'm so proud of BOTH of my kids for their hard work this year. When I looked at them before they headed to school this morning, I couldn't help but wonder, "Where did time go?" They truly looked so grown up and it happened in the blink of an eye! 

When I did the traditional first day of school/last day of school comparison, the changes were evident. Especially with Dylan! Who are these big kids and where did my babies go?!?

 

These big kids got off the bus this afternoon and their enthusiasm was lacking. Dylan's tween attitude was in full force. He's just too cool these days. He thrives on going to school and seeing his friends, but he was too cool to admit that he would miss his friends and his teacher. Lexie was crying because she ALREADY missed school, she missed her friends and she missed her teacher. She just didn't want school to end and her emotions were spilling over. I just stood there, completely stunned. Where was their last day of school excitement???

But I get it. I understand how difficult it is to say goodbye to something you know.  They trusted and loved their teachers and felt completely comfortable in their classrooms. It's hard to face the unknown of another year ahead of them and only hope that they win the teacher lottery again.

I get it, because that's how I feel, too.  I liked how things were. Time is moving entirely too quickly and I'm trying desperately to hold on to life as it is at this very moment and I'm not succeeding whatsoever. Time...and my kids...are slipping out of my grasp much faster than I like.

But that's the point of raising kids, isn't it? It's incredibly bittersweet. You want them to grow and thrive but it's just so hard to let go of the past.

And here we are.  5th Grade and 3rd Grade are officially over. It seemed like decades before we would reach this point and now I'm just wondering where time went!

I'm looking forward to Summer Break with my kids. I just want to spend time with them and enjoy the NOW.

I just hope I don't lose my sanity along the way...I'm just keeping it real.

I have three kids camping out in our living room for their first night of Summer Break. The oldest two bickered all afternoon. The tween couldn't control his attitude and lost his iPod. The 9 year old cried all evening about school being over. The toddler is trying to fight off a fever. In the morning, my niece will be arriving to spend the day with us.  And did I mention that it's now 3:30 AM?

In just a few hours, Camp Mom is about to begin! My kids, and their cousins and friends who will be spending most weekdays with us (I told you I was crazy), have a fun Summer ahead of them. I've been browsing my Pinterest boards, writing down ideas, shopping for supplies and loosely planning our weeks. 

I tried to stick to the same plan each week: Two outings, one craft, one recipe and one DIY activity.  It was a lot of work, but I managed to come up with enough ideas for each Summer weekday plus a few extras, just in case! The best part is that none of it is time-consuming and most things can be done at any time throughout the day!

Stay tuned...I'll be sharing the project next Tuesday and I'm going to attempt to recap each week of Camp Mom fun throughout the Summer!

My hope is to make memories with my kids over the Summer and enjoy each day. Before I know it, Fall will be here and all FOUR of my kids will be heading to school. I'm holding on to the now with all my might!

ALL FOUR KIDS IN SCHOOL. I can't even think about that without crying! Motherhood is a tough gig!

What are your plans for Summer Break?

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Off They Go!

It's officially the first day of school!

Dylan and Lexie woke up so excited about their first day!  After our traditional Back To School doughnut breakfast, they put on their brand new Back To School outfits, and we snapped a few obligatory first day pictures!



Dylan is going into 5th grade, which means he's moving into a new building.  It's a much bigger school and actually looks very much like a high school.  He was a bit intimidated when we toured it, but he's looking forward to seeing his friends and having a locker for the first time! His three teachers are very nice and he found out there's another skateboarder in his class, so he can't wait to meet him. Dylan's a great kid and I know he's going to have a great year!




Lexie is starting 3rd grade! She's still in the same school, but is moving up to the top floor this year.  She has a male teacher for the second time in her short school career.  There are only a handful of male teachers in K-6, and I went to school with both of the male teachers Lexie was assigned!  I graduated with Lexie's kindergarten teacher and Lexie's new teacher was a year ahead of me in high school. Lexie can't wait to tell him that she saw his high school yearbook pictures! Lexie is going to have a great year, too!




Dylan and Lexie are a bit bummed that they won't be in the same school anymore (they won't be in the same school again until Lexie starts 9th grade!), but they still ride the bus together!



Lily doesn't start school until next week, so she was feeling a bit left out this morning! She watched sadly as Dylan and Lexie climbed on the bus and held onto my leg as the bus pulled away.  I think she's going to miss them!



Here's to a great 2015-2016 school year!  My "babies" are growing up way too quickly!!!



Did your kids start school yet?  If so, how is everything going? 

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School's Out For The Summer

It always amazes me how quickly kids change in nine short months.  It isn't really evident until you compare the first day of school pictures to the last day of school pictures!

A little over nine months ago, Dylan started third grade and Lexie started first grade.  They were nervous, excited, and oh so young.



Today was their last day of the school year.  Today, they looked so much older than they did on that  sunny morning nine months ago.



They both greeted the day with big smiles.  Even while they were trying to wake up, I could see the excitement in their eyes.



We headed down to the bus stop a few minutes early to take some pictures before the bus arrived.







They hopped on the bus, eager to give out thank you cards and gift cards to their awesome bus driver and awesome teachers. They were looking forward to a day full of performances (Lexie) and movies (Dylan).

I was waiting with my camera when the bus pulled up after school. The kids on the bus were so excited. Dylan climbed down the steps, and kids shouted out goodbyes behind him.  He had a huge smile on his face.  Lexie followed behind, with a pout on her face.  She immediately burst into tears and ran into the house.  It turns out she broke a flower off her shoe, and really really really missed her teacher and her friends.  She must be one of the few kids who is sad to see school end!  She finally cheered up and started to get excited about the summer ahead of her.

Dylan and Lexie learned so much this year.  They matured and became more confident. They worked hard and earned great grades.  Dylan is now reading at a 5th grade level and Lexie is very close to a 3rd grade level. I credit Lexie's teacher for that.  Dylan had her, as well, and she really pushed reading.  I will always have a special place in my heart for her.  She took good care of my sweet kids and pushed them to succeed!

Dylan and Lexie had a great year in school, and I am so proud of how far they have come!












It's hard to believe that they will be going to 2nd and 4th grade in 3 short months!



We celebrated the end of a successful school year with a trip to Dairy Queen for dinner!  Kids choice!



It was hard to say goodbye to their friends and their wonderful teachers, but they are looking forward to a fun summer break!