How far we've come
When baby girl first moved in, we were getting 3-4 calls a week from the school regarding both behavior issues and academic issues. Academic issues were about her not doing the work, erasing her ipad and not turning in the work, etc.
Behavior issues to the point of teachers turning their heads, pretending they didn't see us in public to avoid talking to our child.
A couple years later, behavior issues were non-existent. We were getting compliments from teachers on our childs behavior, manners and how respectful she is. We were told "you should have more kids, if all our students were like yours, a teachers job would be so easy". She still struggled with the academics, but was a dream as far as behavior at school.
Last year, it was all about balance. She was achieving straight A's, earning academic awards, behavior a dream, popular with her peers.
Comparing now to 5 years ago is like comparing how far you can see at 2 am vs 2 pm.
Things are going well at school and while she has some hard classes and not a straight A student, her effort is there, her focus is there and we couldn't ask for more.
She's received her first college acceptance letter. She will be doing dual enrollment for her Junior and Senior year of high school and should be able to have all her general credits for associates degree by the time she receives her high school diploma.
This week, we received a letter stating she was being invited to apply to enter Governors School for her Junior and Senior years.
She can choose to do Governors school, college or both at the same time as finishing her high school career. Governors school is a program that is for gifted students to challenge and teach beyond what is available in a normal high school education.
Governors school is competitive and only about 15% of applicants are accepted.
Dual enrollment, on the other hand, would save us 2 years of college expenses. Oh wait....no it wouldn't, kiddo was adopted after age 8, so 2 years is free anyway.
I think both would be too overwhelming, although it is an option. I hope she doesn't do that because I want her to enjoy the rest of her high school years, but on the other hand, how amazing that this is an option. Our Godson did both and we're so proud, so it is possible.
If I were her, I'd choose college vs dual enrollment, but the choice is hers and I'm not going to weigh in, just support the decision.
We shall see what happens.
Thursday, January 18, 2018
Sibling Visits
With holidays and a zillion work things, it's been awhile since I've written.
The visit we had planned back in November didn't happen.
Baby sis lost it and ended up in the hospital, followed by going to a residential treatment center. It was rough not getting to see her for the holidays.
We got thru the holidays fine, despite that, and kiddo started getting more and more stressed about the lack of contact with her sister.
This week though, she has called kiddo every day and her therapist has been on a few of the calls and they have arranged a play date. It's going to be harder because she's even further from us now, but we're all excited to see her.
I think baby sis is anxious to see kiddo. Today she called (5th day in a row) and said "so when is it you're coming to see me?"
I've been a little uptight over the whole situation, a little angry at the baby sis for disrupting the plans for the holidays, losing her temper and refusing to go back where she was. Yeah, she asked to be moved and it wasn't pretty. She tore up all her clothes. We couldn't send her her Christmas gifts because it's not items on the approved list. We send some of kiddos hand me down clothes so she'd have something other than Christmas to take care of her clothing needs.
S (baby sis) isn't speaking with her case worker currently, angry over her placement, etc. I'm hoping this means she'll actually work the plan, realizing she's had it made with some of the group homes and that this rtc stay will result in enough healing to allow her to be able to live in a family setting.
The visit we had planned back in November didn't happen.
Baby sis lost it and ended up in the hospital, followed by going to a residential treatment center. It was rough not getting to see her for the holidays.
We got thru the holidays fine, despite that, and kiddo started getting more and more stressed about the lack of contact with her sister.
This week though, she has called kiddo every day and her therapist has been on a few of the calls and they have arranged a play date. It's going to be harder because she's even further from us now, but we're all excited to see her.
I think baby sis is anxious to see kiddo. Today she called (5th day in a row) and said "so when is it you're coming to see me?"
I've been a little uptight over the whole situation, a little angry at the baby sis for disrupting the plans for the holidays, losing her temper and refusing to go back where she was. Yeah, she asked to be moved and it wasn't pretty. She tore up all her clothes. We couldn't send her her Christmas gifts because it's not items on the approved list. We send some of kiddos hand me down clothes so she'd have something other than Christmas to take care of her clothing needs.
S (baby sis) isn't speaking with her case worker currently, angry over her placement, etc. I'm hoping this means she'll actually work the plan, realizing she's had it made with some of the group homes and that this rtc stay will result in enough healing to allow her to be able to live in a family setting.
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