After about 2 weeks of ignoring my day planner, I pulled it back out yesterday. And guess what? I have today and only today to gather test results from the Maryland school, fill out forms, and drop them off *somewhere* to get Zach a test time next week for the "Challenge" (gift and talented) class at our new school.
Yay, I get to be "that mom" trying to weasel her darling child into the special classes. I hate being "that mom". But I know Zach really needs it and his Maryland GT teacher practically made me swear on my life that I would get him into the program here in Indiana. And as I was apologizing to the director of the county wide program on the phone this morning, I mentioned that I have 4 other children and really I wouldn't be doing all this if Zach didn't need it. So either I'm sorry I have a very smart kid or 4 normal average ones. (Technically we don't know about Kyle or Kelly yet, the program doesn't start until 3rd grade.)
I guess I wanted to make the point that I'm not one of those crazy parents hung up on what I selfishly feel my kids should be doing in school. (Hang on while I get my soap box.) I was "that smart kid" in grade school, bored to tears while I waited for the rest of the class to figure out the multiplication tables while I was already doing long division in my head. The GT classes were a life saver for me. And Zach's like me. He was so bored in 1st grade that his teacher sent him to a 3rd grade class for reading and math.
I'm a firm believer in making sure the kids get an education in the way they need it. Zach needs a challenge. Ally is great at grade level. She actually did test for GT last year but didn't have the scores to get into the program. Even if she had, I'd be hesitant for her. The extra "challenge" might have been too stressful for her. Emily goes the other way and we had her seeing a reading specialist. She's doing better but still struggles a bit. I think one of her issues is she has a mean perfectionist streak. If she's not going to be able to read it perfectly the first time through, she won't try. She doesn't like to make mistakes and the majority of learning is making mistakes and moving on. We're working on it.
It's just... (Dude, the view from this soapbox is cool. And I am short.) I don't like feeling like "that mom". I mean if I really wanted to be "that mom", I'd have pushed for Zach to be on the travel hockey team. He did the try-outs and didn't make the team. Maybe next year. I wouldn't want to bring the team down by forcing a player on them that wasn't of the same caliber. Or make Zach miserable because he'd always be on the bench since he wasn't really at that level of play. He can be an average hockey player and I'm good with that.
And honestly? I am lazy. Do you really think I want to spend today on the phone arranging faxes and filling out forms and driving all over God's green earth to get Zach into the challenge class for my pride? Although I am beginning to wonder about all the GT classes I took back in the day. At least one of them should have taught me about deadlines and checking a calendar more often than once a month.
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