This morning an errand took me to the Broadmor school office. Sophie’s old school. I hadn’t pulled up to the school since her last day, and I wondered if I’d get emotional. There they were, just as we’d left them, the office staff and our beloved principal. He insisted on a hug even though I protested (sweaty from the gym) and then he ran back to his office because he had something for Sophie. 

Of course he did. He’d tracked down a copy of “Otherwise Known As Sheila the Great,” having heard through the grapevine that our poodle had consumed Sophie’s original copy. I told him how well school is going for Sophie (knock on wood, parent/teacher conferences are tomorrow, so that could all end in the span of a 5-minute sit down) and that we couldn’t have done it without him paving the way. He beamed. Me too. No tears. We promised to get together soon.

See also: From the First Day to the Last

Yesterday I heard on NPR that they have created a 3-D printer that can make an ear. How long till they can duplicate Mr. Fritch, and place him in schools all over the country? Even when things are going relatively well for Sophie I fret over a million things, but some days the universe pulls me back and makes me appreciate what we have — and we have it really, really good.

Here’s a recent post from one of the Facebook groups about DS that I follow. I read it and decided to focus (for today, anyway) on being grateful for Sophie’s situation — integrated with her peers, overseen by staff that communicate with me constantly.

Some days are just more emotional then others. My daughter started middle school this year. She eats breakfast at school but takes longer. It took them a week to tell me that she misses her first entire class (music/band) with her peers because she does not get done eating on time. I told them I will feed her at home then because I do not want her missing the few classes she has with her peers. Then I noticed on the school website that it is picture day tomorrow. Most parents would know this because order forms come home ahead of time. I called the office and asked if it was picture day tomorrow, she said yes, and I said I did not get an order form sent home. She said the one thing that I always dread “oh, I have them here in the office, we forget they are a part of us sometimes and I forgot to send them up to her special ed room.” That did not make me as angry is it made me sad. I had her transfer me straight to the principle to discuss how I want everything the regular ed class gets sent home with them to be sent home with her also. He was very apologetic but it doesnt change the fact that yes, they are forgotten at times. Her room is not even on the same floor as her peers. I hope the year gets better, it just started.