Beautiful. What a lucky boy you have to be blessed with such a caring, dedicated mommy. Thank you for the strength and transparency you share in your art and your life.
The first thought that came to mind when I saw the word "IEP" was "documentation and advocation." So much respect for all of the love and advocacy you give your sweet John Henry.
I am so very sorry you had to go through this kind of hard day. I know just what you mean when you talk of divorcing yourself from your emotions. Sometimes it almost feels like you have to almost abase oneself, not let your full intellect and emotions, and fears show through. Or it has to me when dealing with this almost faceless process. Except the face that matters most doesn’t get deeply looked at, or truly known like it should be. I am so sorry.
Well, you didn’t ask for this...but I can tell right off that John Henry is your sidekick. And you his. I wrote a poem about just that. I hope it lightens things for you.
Everybody Needs a Sidekick
Everybody needs a sidekick,
At least everyone that I’ve known,
No matter the day, they give you a reason,
To get up and keep going on.
Everybody needs a sidekick,
Without mine, I’d sure be lost,
They give you more courage, and stand by your side,
I am sorry the day was so hard. For me, IEP days were always jarring reminders of the loss. They tended to trigger so many of the early post diagnosis emotions. Those feelings, even after all these years, are always close to the surface—on standby. IEPs, and all the necessary system touch points continue to underscore that the systems of support are inadequate, and the resources to support growth and learning for our kids , are scanty . It shouldn’t be that way.
When these things wallop me, and they do— I have learned to be with the feelings for a bit, but I have gotten better at redirecting the sadness (anger too) to the other thoughts that also hover nearby. I think of all the people who have seen and nurtured my son’s light. They are heroes, they are gifts— and their love and commitment helps to make the rest of this bearable. Their ability to “see “ him , has sometimes propelled me to move forward during the toughest times.
Oh, and then there is my child, my sweet son, my finest teacher….he continues to show me the spaces between the lines.
“A lot of grief...the virus, paralyzing fear, the striking sense of blinding loss...” Yes, all of this every day. I’m so sorry your day was made that much harder. I’m not of much use past that, right now. He is blessed with you.
You put into words what I think we are all feeling right now. There's a song in there, I felt it as I read it. I wish you well in your search for help for your son.
Grace is an underappreciated virtue these days, of which you have an abundance
This is beautiful and these words resonated today! Onward, Allison, onward!
“If you have a why, you can endure any how.” So true.
I hope the pove we all feel for you will give you strength❤❤
My nephew has learning disabilities. My sister fought the fight you're now fighting.
Beautiful. What a lucky boy you have to be blessed with such a caring, dedicated mommy. Thank you for the strength and transparency you share in your art and your life.
The first thought that came to mind when I saw the word "IEP" was "documentation and advocation." So much respect for all of the love and advocacy you give your sweet John Henry.
I am so very sorry you had to go through this kind of hard day. I know just what you mean when you talk of divorcing yourself from your emotions. Sometimes it almost feels like you have to almost abase oneself, not let your full intellect and emotions, and fears show through. Or it has to me when dealing with this almost faceless process. Except the face that matters most doesn’t get deeply looked at, or truly known like it should be. I am so sorry.
Well, you didn’t ask for this...but I can tell right off that John Henry is your sidekick. And you his. I wrote a poem about just that. I hope it lightens things for you.
Everybody Needs a Sidekick
Everybody needs a sidekick,
At least everyone that I’ve known,
No matter the day, they give you a reason,
To get up and keep going on.
Everybody needs a sidekick,
Without mine, I’d sure be lost,
They give you more courage, and stand by your side,
When there’s wild raging rivers to cross.
Everyone needs a sidekick [or two]
And if you think, “No thanks, I’ve got plenty.’
See how you feel when you add a few more,
You really can’t have too darned many.
Everybody needs a sidekick [these days],
But that’s probably always been true,
Lone Ranger, Monte Walsh, even Hans Solo,
Makes sense we’d be needing one too.
I love being with my old sidekick,
I smile when I hear people say,
“You look mighty happy…oh, I see,
You’ve got your sidekick with you today.”
Everybody needs a sidekick,
And it’s his turn to be one for now,
But I intend to be, his sidekick someday,
If the Good Lord and the Fates will allow.
Everybody needs a sidekick.
Rodney ‘Butch’ Bailey
I am sorry the day was so hard. For me, IEP days were always jarring reminders of the loss. They tended to trigger so many of the early post diagnosis emotions. Those feelings, even after all these years, are always close to the surface—on standby. IEPs, and all the necessary system touch points continue to underscore that the systems of support are inadequate, and the resources to support growth and learning for our kids , are scanty . It shouldn’t be that way.
When these things wallop me, and they do— I have learned to be with the feelings for a bit, but I have gotten better at redirecting the sadness (anger too) to the other thoughts that also hover nearby. I think of all the people who have seen and nurtured my son’s light. They are heroes, they are gifts— and their love and commitment helps to make the rest of this bearable. Their ability to “see “ him , has sometimes propelled me to move forward during the toughest times.
Oh, and then there is my child, my sweet son, my finest teacher….he continues to show me the spaces between the lines.
Go gently.
“A lot of grief...the virus, paralyzing fear, the striking sense of blinding loss...” Yes, all of this every day. I’m so sorry your day was made that much harder. I’m not of much use past that, right now. He is blessed with you.
You put into words what I think we are all feeling right now. There's a song in there, I felt it as I read it. I wish you well in your search for help for your son.