Thank you to all of you who keep checking in on us, especially as Hurricane Ian headed our way. We were lucky that he did not quite make it this far, but so sad for those who were immeasurably impacted by the storm. He was supposed to hit us dead on, but would have hit a cold front before reaching us which would have likely made him less intense, instead he took a turn east about 2 1/2 hours south of us and boy did they feel the horrible impact. We had this tree down and lots and lots of branches but we were fine, and although loads of people surrounding us lost power for several days we did not miss a beat. My oldest son and his girlfriend came to stay with us and it was wonderful because just knowing they were here if things got bad made me feel much more safe and secure.
Little Buddy continues to have difficulty with the school. They frequently call and disrupt my work day with minor offenses, things I deal with about every hour of my day. The teacher continues to teach him far below his ability level so I still have to teach him at home to keep him even close to a typical fifth grader. If they would meet him at his intellectual level half of the problems would be gone, I keep reminding them that on a weekly basis. I have a parent teacher conference on Monday, wish me luck.
Little Buddy got to go to his first fishing tournament on Saturday. It was for children with special needs. Mr. Jason, a lovely man, helped him catch two fish! We got second place in the length category. After Mr. Jason left it was all Mom and Little Buddy. We did not catch a thing but we had fun on a beautiful sunny morning in October. I must love that boy because I had fish goop all over trying to bait the hook. We released every thing for those who are concerned.
I am not feeling well so I will leave you all. I hope you are all happy and healthy and enjoying the beautiful weather wherever you are.
And as per my last post, to the person who left the ridiculous comment, respect is earned it is not a given. 30 years of lies in a marriage no longer warrants respect of any kind. There can be attempts to be civil, for the sake of family, but respect, no I don't think so. And I am sorry you are so small that you have to hurt someone you don't even know. I am thinking of you and sending you love that you can do better.
38 comments:
Meredith, I am so very happy that you have once again blogged. I do not have a blog ,but have read and enjoyed your blog for many years. Little Buddy is getting so big and I so enjoy hearing about him. Just have to say, I hate that some people have to be rude.
Please continue with your beautiful blog and I hope that somehow the school will give Little Buddy what he needs
Dorothy in Virgina
I was thinking 🤔 about you and LB when the hurricane 🌀 was in Florida. I'm glad you're safe as well. My brother lives near Miami but they just got a tropical storm in that area with a bit electricity off and on. I am glad to read another post. Fun time on a boat with LB and 🐟 Phil and I were on the Willamette Queen sternwheeler yesterday evening. Lovely scenes and delicious food celebrating our anniversary. 83 degrees. It's to be cooler starting Tues. Have a good week.
P/S email me your address.
snapperbeckatgmailcom
Stand your ground Lady. You have truth, right and love on your side. Good luck at the Teacher's conference.
Hugs and Love Meredith and Little Buddy. Glad you had your son and girlfriend with you during the storm (and not a hurricane). Hope you feel better soon. Glad you and Little Buddy went to his first fishing tournament - there are normal and kind people who care too. Thank you for writing today and sharing - I check your blog every day in case you had time/energy to write.
Joy
So frustrating for you regarding school.My mantra when teaching was to aim to get the best out of every pupil,push them to succeed.
Hope things get better.
Barbarax
Best of luck with the meeting on Monday! I hope it goes well.
Two fish is OUTSTANDING! Tim went fishing on Saturday and got nothing. But he said it was great being out on the river looking for fish.
Greta to see you back!
I was worried about you and little Buddy with the approaching storm. Glad you both are safe and remember you never have to take any crap from anyone. Hope you feel better soon...
Glad you were unscathed from the storm!
How exciting for Buddy to go fishing! I spent a lot of time fishing as a kid, and it was always so much fun!
Hope you can get the school on board!
I am so glad you are blogging again. And you are safe from the hurricane. I don't understand people who feel they have to give advice to people and the circumstances they don't even know.
I hope your meeting will go well.
Take care
Marion
Hi Meredith glad to hear that you are all safe. I'ts a shame that Little Buddy is still having problems at school I hope that things can be sorted at the teacher conference and I wish you luck with that. Hope that you feel better soon. xx
Thank you for the update. I'm not one to comment but have followed for awhile. When Ian hit, I thought about who I knew in Florida, and hoped you both, and the dogs, were all ok.
It's so annoying when you're having issues with a school, it doesn't matter the child's ability, all they want is to learn at their level, they get bored and disruptive if their needs aren't being met. I hope the issues are resolved at the parent teacher conference but it sounds as though you've been hitting your head against a brick wall so far.
You're weathering many storms, Meredith and doing a grand job at all of them. Keep going and hope you feel better soon. xxx
Really pleased to hear from you and that thou are safe. So sorry to hear about schooling issues continue, it’s so frustrating when people don’t listen to you. I hope you can get somewhere with it all.
We only had a ton of tree mess her and the pond is flooded way over its banks from all the rain. Bill was in Ft Myers so I was all alone for this one--quite the experience. (Bill goes down there as he works for the Power Company!) Buddy sure is growing up--I'm glad he caught 2 fish at least!
You are amazing xo
How exciting, a fishing tournament! I hope his prize encouraged him enough to want to try fishing again. I like fishing, and I also release the fish (if they aren't pan size.)
I've been on both sides of the parent-teacher conference, and it's not easy either way. I hope a solution can be reached that helps you all, especially your son. I know you are a strong advocate and not afraid to stand up for your rights (and his) and get what you are entitled to for his optimal learning.
Hang in there. You know what you're doing, and that's the important thing. XO
Golly he is growing so fast!! I'm sending lots of good wishes for your parent/teacher conference. Thanks for the update!!
It has to be exhausting to have to fight so much for little buddy! No wonder you aren't feeling well. I am sorry. One would think that the teacher would appreciate and incorporate your feedback because her day with him would have fewer disruptions. It sounds like you are in a rock and a hard spot situation. I wish you well during the conference. I love the fishing pictures. It looked like a super fun outing. Isn't it interesting how beautiful the fish are in the sunlight. . .their scales actually sparkle! Good for you to do it inspire of the fish goo!!!
I'm so happy to hear Ian missed you. It must have been really scary watching that track and waiting.
Little Buddy looks like he's having a ball. I love the water but I have NEVER been tempted to deal with all the fish goop. My mother on the other hand loved to fish. I never understood it but I sure appreciated having a freezer filled with fresh fish and crab meat.
I am so glad all is well with you and your family.
I think you should point out to LB's teacher that teaching him below his performance level could be contributing to some of his behavior problems. Kids know when they are being condescended to. No one likes to be talked down too. I am a former special education teacher and taught a self contained class for behavior disordered children for 20 years. I hope I am over stepping..
I wish you well and take care,
Kaye
How wonderful to see you back on the blog. I was thinking of you when reading about the progress of hurricane Ian in the news. Glad you are safe. Good luck for your meeting with the school, it sounds like such a frustrating situation to deal with. It makes me so cross to read that Little Buddy is taught below his ability, he must be so bored and frustrated. I hope you feel better soon. Sending hugs xx
Good to hear from you again! Thankful you and your family are safe. I'm sorry that you are having so many problems with Little Buddy's school. Is he in a regular classroom and if so, does he have an aide? Or, is he in a special school? Doesn't sound like they know what they're doing. You go get 'em, Mama Bear, at that parent-teacher conference! {{hugs}}
Meredith, thank you for your update. I think of you and Little Buddy and your big boys often and am thankful you survived Ian. And the rude commenter! Please keep well and know you are cared from, even all the way up in Northern Canada!
X Chy
I was relieved to hear that you came through the hurricane okay. Best of luck with the teacher conference and hope you feel better soon.
You can do it, Meredity!
Glad to hear you weathered Ian well. Our beautiful Venice has so much damage, it makes me sad. Nothing like just south of us, but still overwhelming. I am helping as much as I can both in my neighborhood (300 trees down) and with the group I volunteer with downtown. It will take years to look normal again. We only had damage to our pool cage, so incredibly lucky.
My best friend has a son, now 20 years of age, who has an intellectual disability and autism. We have had many, many conversations about her needing to be an advocate for him all his life, and how exhausting that can be. It takes a lot of physical and emotional energy.
What other choice does she have, though? He can't advocate for himself, so she is it. All I can do is tell her what a great job she's doing: because she is. Just as you are.
And I'm sorry, schools need to deal with classroom difficulties, including inappropriate behaviour, at school. Yes, out a note in his communication book so you can deal with any fallout out home, but to be constantly phoning you? Not on.
All the best to you.
Claudia kept us up to date on your Ian situation and I'm glad you missed the worst of it and that it took a fortuitous turn. But what is really disturbing to me is Little Buddy's situation at school which doesn't sound good at all. You must be terribly concerned and I'm glad you have a conference soon. Do you have "schools of choice" where you are (we do in our area of Michigan, maybe all over, but at least in our area). You can send your child to any school. Of course, it isn't always convenient or close, but sometimes a good alternative to the local if one can swing it. I hope things level out. You're a fighter and I know you'll make it work however you can. Take care and I hope you're feeling better by now. I have some Michigan color to share when you have time to come around!
I hope the meeting on Monday went well. LB is lucky to have you in his corner. And then a hurricane! as if you didn't have enough on your plate. I'm glad to hear you guys are safe and sound. xo
Hello Mere: Sorry I'm late with my reading. I have been away from blogland for over a week, once again. Life has been catching up with me too. But...I'm hopeful that your conference for LB went well. I know that with your experience and the fact that you know him best SHOULD be taken into consideration with his teacher, but I also know many teachers that don't appreciate parent's input. I hope the later wasn't true for you on Monday. We all know how smart your little guy is and he needs to be kept challenged.
I was praying for you all during the hurricane and I'm so glad to hear that you had other adults with you and escaped the worst of the storm.
Please take care of yourself. That's important too my friend.
Blessings and love,
Betsy
Fishing looks fun for Buddy. It is good to find something engaging. Thanks for posting even though sometimes it is hard. x
So glad to see a post from you. I love that Little Buddy had the chance to do a fishing competition. My middle boy loves fishing - self-taught as I don't know the first thing about it. I have spent quite a few hours by the water not catching anything! Sorry the difficulties with school continue, that's very disappointing to say the least. I do hope the teacher conference went well and that you got through to them.
Glad that your son and his girlfriend were with you through the storm and that you didn't suffer too much damage. By the way, I LOVE Little Buddy's peace/CND t-shirt, absolutely brilliant. Hugs, CJ xx
I'm glad the hurricane did not make it up your way. I feel for those who were faced with it. Our east side of Australia is being battered with flooding and the rains continue to pour. We are praying for them also. It is a pity that the schooling isn't going well for Buddy and good luck with the teacher parent meeting. xx
So glad to see your blog. You have a lot of support here and a lot of people who care about you. It’s amazing some people can be so critical when they have so little knowledge of the situation.
Good luck with your meeting with the teacher. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how much training a person has or how much experience they have. I think what matters most is the compassion and being able to relate to kids on their level. Does Little Buddy have an aide this year?
Hang in there. I think about you so often. You’re doing the right thing.
Love,
Eileen
Thank goodness the storm never got properly close to where you are... but so sorry to hear about the troubles at school. It must be very frustrating, and exhausting, (and as you say, distracting during your workday) and overall worrying... I do hope that the PT meeting goes ok and that perhaps there is some breakthrough with understanding your point of view and LB's needs. Meanwhile, hooray for a fun and successful fishing trip = looks like it was much enjoyed by the young fisherman! xxx
Must be so frustrating for you and for LB to have a school that doesn't get him. Glad you're all safe!
Amalia
xo
It’s Jill from emerald cottage here. Commenting on my phone so it won’t me log in and instead I am anonymous !
Huge hugs my dear friend, don’t let the haters get you down, I hope you keep blogging as it’s always to good to hear your news xxx
I’m sorry you were the victim of someone’s nastiness. I hope the school does right by Buddy, I bet he enjoyed his time fishing with you. I hope you are feeling better. Stay strong.
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