A Good Day

Today was a good day.  This morning we had Finley's IEP meeting and it went really, really well.  Mat and I went in with a list of things we wanted to put in the IEP and came out with all of them in there.  And even better - the team was already predicting the same wants, and they had already put a lot of things in place.

We learned how much work Finley's teacher and aide are doing to keep her going through the day.  They working like a well oiled machine together and we were very pleased with what they had to say.  The whole meeting stayed light and there was a lot of laughter and sharing of stories.  We left there feeling pretty good and pretty relaxed.

Mat and I even went out to lunch afterwards to celebrate the success.  So different than last year's IEP meeting.  We feel like the team is much more in control, and working well together and that has made a big difference.  I left there pretty happy that Finley will have the same teacher next year (and the same team) because it went so well.  For the first time, I didn't feel sad that she won't be moving on to 3rd grade with her peers.  She is in a good place.

Happy!

Her teacher was a rock start at the meeting today.  She really fought for Finley and is going to work hard to get Finley extra help in Math next year which she really needs.  She is even going to help us gather materials to help us work with her over the summer so that she is off to a great start in the fall.  AND - just yesterday, she made something for Finley that was so special, that when I shared it at the meeting today, everyone cried.  Her teacher was worried about Finley's feelings about being a failure (which is what Finley has expressed to us how she feels about repeating 2nd grade) and she wanted to try and come up with something that would show Finley that she has a lot of people who are on her side.

So she made this.

And she gave every member of Finley's team a little puzzle piece charm (including Finley).  We are to keep them with us, and Finley can fit her puzzle piece into ours.  And each one came with this little saying.

Isn't that the best??  Finley was so excited about it.  She couldn't wait to pass them out to everyone.  Her teacher was really winning points with this one.

So - things, today, are good.  We are getting ready to go into Easter and Spring Break, and take some time to visit family in Pennsylvania for a few days.  We are looking forward to not having to get up early for 10 days and just relaxing.

Of course, Mother Nature decided that she wanted to show us that winter wasn't quite over yet this morning.

My poor plants.