Educating our Children

Why discuss this? How does this relate to adoption? I think the number one thing we are learning throughout this process is to be incredibly flexible. Those of you who know me know that flexibility isn't my strong point! But when it comes to meeting your child's particular needs, that sometimes means going in a completely different direction than you ever thought you could.

I am a certified elementary school teacher and taught in public schools for five years before staying home with our Ladybug when she was born. And I loved it. I mean really loved it. I loved the kids, I loved the day-to-day life, I love just teaching. I still miss my babies I got the amazing privilege of teaching what now feels like a lifetime ago. I really hope to go back some day.This is probably why the decision of where to send our kids to school was so agonizing for me to work through throughout the past few years. I always imagined my kids attending the same school at which I taught, hanging out in my classroom after school doing their homework and playing while I wrapped up the day.

But life likes to throw curve balls at you, and I, being the least flexible human being on earth, have had to learn how to go with the flow.  My priority is to do what is best for my children, even if that doesn't align with what I originally planned.

Our Ladybug has a few diagnoses, but the two main issues we are dealing with is epilepsy and Pompe Disease.  We are very blessed that the Pompe now has a treatment - for this we are incredibly grateful. The bad news is it is a life-long treatment that basically changes everything.  She will have to take a full day out of every two weeks to do her blood infusion treatment indefinitely.  She will have to have a port surgically inserted into her chest to which the treatment will hook up, and as she grows she'll have to continue to have surgery to change out the port that apparently will need to grow with her. She will also have ongoing respiratory therapy, physical therapy, speech, and occupational therapy. Also, from what I understand, the days leading up to the biweekly treatments are a little rough as the patient can be excessively tired and  not feeling well as the body is in need of the next treatment.

All this to say, between the Pompe and her rough seizure days, the Duke and I, along with doctors and therapists, have decided full time school is not the best fit for our Ladybug. She would have an average of one absence a week, which when you are already developmentally behind and needing extra help, sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. We have spent the past three years going through our options, touring schools, and talking to experts. We have attended conferences and meetings, contacting other parents and learning what others have chosen to do. We have finally come to the conclusion that we need to explore a part-time school program.

Luckily for us, university-style schools are popping up all over the place in Texas. This is a full-week program where a student attends the school classroom for two or three days per week. The parents take over the education at home (aka the satellite classroom) the other days of the week following the school-provided curriculum. Considering we spend so much time doing school-like work at home already, this option seems to fit. We can pack up school to take to the hospital with us every two weeks, hopefully learning how to fit the treatments into our everyday lifestyle. We believe this to be the most emotionally healthy route to take for Ladybug, as well as the most educational route that will leave the least amount of holes.

What about Panda? Well, Panda is still four years old, and if I've learned anything, it is to keep our options open!  Right now, it appears a part-time school will also be best for him, at least in the beginning as he learns to be away from the family and from Mom. He is still dealing with his abandonment and healing from some pretty intense trauma. He is also catching up in a major way with his speech and language, so some extra one-on-one time definitely won't hurt. When it comes time, we will make a decision that we feel is in Panda's best interest, whatever that may look like.

On a personal note from Mom's point-of-view...

The original plan was  for me to go back to teaching when the kiddos got old enough to go to school. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a part of me that was disappointed, although in a way I suppose I am still going to be teaching.  Considering everything that has happened in the past six years (I'm including my pregnancy in that time frame), I have had to put my personal desires on hold to tackle what life has thrown at us. As a mom, of course I do this with love and joy, as we all want what is best for our children! But that's not to say it hasn't been a sacrifice. Teaching was my thing. I loved it. Every single part. I miss my kids I used to teach more than I can express. I still pray for them often. They are constantly on my heart and my mind. I loved getting up in the mornings and going to work, and I was very much looking forward to returning to my job in the classroom.

All that being said, because I do love to teach so much and have such a longing desire for it, I can't help but to watch this transition in our lives with interest and excitement. What on earth does God have in mind for me and our family in the upcoming 14 years of school for our kids? I have a feeling that my continued desire to be in the classroom and teach is there for a reason. I enjoy teaching my littles very much, even if it isn't an entire classroom of kiddos. I love instructing Ladybug and Panda to read and write and think. My joy overflows and it spills out onto the kids. They beg me each day after breakfast to go into the "preschool room" and work. They are both little sponges and they soak up my enthusiasm for those teaching moments. 

Panda has finally learned to sit and listen and focus. (This took about a year to teach him.) Once that was learned, his learning has exploded! He's not only learned his alphabet, but his phonics, counting, shapes, puzzles, etc. I can't seem to teach him fast enough. He craves it all! And Ladybug finds words while reading her books and begs me to add them to her sight word repertoire. She squeals with glee when it's time to practice handwriting, as challenging as it can be for her. They are both little eager students.

Falling into a university style school seems pretty natural for us as a family as it is basically something we are already doing. It will just be strange now to be given a curriculum to follow. (I'm sure I can always add my own flair!) Say a little prayer for us as we try to choose a school that will not only meet the kids' health and emotional needs, but that will be willing to take on a different family with unique challenges.

Just a few pics of the kids being adorable and learning at home...

 Valentine art

Working on those scissor skills!

 Geometry 

 Pencil grasp for Panda and handwriting for Ladybug

Building her spacial reasoning skills like a boss

 Letter Recognition

Proud moment with a puppy photobomb 

Celebrating the number 80

Painting on a beautiful day!

We seriously have so much fun learning at home that I don't know what to do with all of our pictures and videos. One day I'll figure that out! In the meantime, we will just keep using that time for bonding and loving on each other in the best way we know how. 💓