An Incredible School Year!
I have been wanting to write this title, "an incredible school year" for a very long time, but it has eluded me until now. I write this blog tonight because it truly has been an incredible school year for both me and Cole. For many of you who read this blog, I started writing because I wanted to change the face of education and all that encompasses those who receive Special Education services. I can finally say I am beyond happy with the education Cole is receiving. I didn't have a clue what Cole was learning in the classroom until this year. I saw very little work from outside the school walls, so I had no idea what kind of education he was receiving until this year. I can now see as a substitute with my own eyes the curriculum (or lack there of) he was learning from, and I knew he needed more. Cole and I worked at home, we worked during school when I was his subsitute, and I made sure Cole was being challenged in school, even if it meant staying there to work with him one on one as a volunteer in his classroom. I felt in my heart that Cole was receiving a F.A.P.E. through 5th grade, but after his wonderful teacher and principal left right after 5th grade, our lives changed. I shared earlier in the week on Facebook how we were affected by an incident when he was in the 6th grade (you can find it in a prior blog post), a non-compliant Principal, a brand new teacher that didn't understand Cole's learning abilities, and a school that felt like a hospital-- Cole's exact words. Reflecting back and seeing how far we have come in just two short years is a miracle. I say this because we have changed our lives drastically in one short year.
I love Cole's former Principal at his middle school and his former teacher. I have tremendous love and respect for them, so this made it hard to move. We were faced with a job loss and a possible move to an entirely different state (New York), which made me evaluate my life. What did I want as a mom, wife, and educator? I wanted to be happy and make sure Cole was getting everything he needed, so I researched, called, emailed, and reached out to friends that I knew could help me if we were moving to New York. After doing a ton of research, we realized staying in Dallas was the best option for us, even without a possible job. I had no idea an apartment in New York (think 500 square feet) was going to cost us a minimum of $3000 a month, without an elevator, one bathroom, and no laundry facilities. However, this also made me realize we didn't need our huge house in Dallas (3,300+ square feet) for three people. Facing a move to New York, the place that Cole absolutely loves to visit, was a revelation for me and for my husband that we actually could downsize.
I have had two people ask me recently why we moved to such an affluent neighborhood, and my answer specifically has been, and will always be, "why do you need to know?". I feel people ask pointed questions and are rude for asking me why we moved, but in all honesty, it has really helped me find out who my true friends really are. I am extremely thankful for all the research I did on a move to NYC. I feel if I hadn't thought through living in New York for a very long time, we wouldn't have been able to make the move to University Park. We live in a very quaint duplex in UP and I love it! Cole can stay home when my husband and I decide to have a date, Cole walks to the grocery store, walks to his personal trainer 6 days a week, and can even walk to church. We downsized because we felt we had to, and I am beyond grateful for this life-changing experience we had to make for the betterment of our family. How did our move change my outlook on life and Cole's education? God has given us the tools to cope with anything, including a serious health issue and a potential job loss. We had faith God would see us through a layoff and He did.
Altering our vision helped us realize that even though life may seem impossible at times, God is always there for us. We stand strong in our faith, continue to pray on a daily basis, and give thanks to God for all we have. Life hasn't been easy at times, but it has been extremely rewarding to see Cole flourish at school, have work that is challenging, and make new friends. I will always believe God saw us through these challenges and brought us closer together as a family. We were scared, but we made adjustments to make sure we weren't in debt if and when my husband was going to be laid off. I can see now why God saw us through these difficult times, because Cole is receiving the most incredible education he has ever had. I never expected to move and I never expected my husband's company to close, but because of our faith in God, our lives truly are the richest they have ever been. My incredible husband was never laid off, I saw firsthand as a substitute what Cole could receive in HPISD, and I love teaching again. I don't do negative, because that's not what I am about. I culled and even blocked a few friendships on Facebook because of their nasty attitude or disposition. I am happy and my life may look like a fairy tale, but it has been a long road to find that dream come true for Cole's education. Cole is happy and will continue to thrive because we have found a place and an incredible school system that truly embraces Cole and his learning abilities. We love our old friends from our former neighborhood and still keep in touch with them, thanks to technology. However, because of having a broader mindset and vision, Cole has received the most invaluable Free and Appropriate Education (F.A.P.E.) I could have ever dreamed of him having. Thank you God, for giving us an incredible school year, filled with so many blessings and surprises! I am one happy mom and wife!
