Went to B's middle school meet the teacher night last night. She's a 6th grader and a little overwhelmed/anxious about the transition. This was supposed to be the night that we took her schedule and rotated through her classrooms in order so she could have some familiarity before the first day.

Well.

About two hours before it started, a storm hit. An AZ monsoon storm is nothing like a midwestern storm – there's no drainage here so a relatively small storm can mean MAJOR flash flooding. I'm still not used to how disruptive simple thunderstorms can be around here! Anyway, traffic to this thing was a NIGHTMARE. We were late.

Then when we got there, parking was a nightmare. Then it turns out that the power was out and classrooms were flooded so they corralled all the 6th graders and families into the generator powered cafeteria (lights, but NO a/c) which was stuffy and super humid and we had to stand it was so crowded (I must not look that pregnant, since not one person offered me a place to sit <grumble>.)

So we got to listen to the teachers introduce themselves. There was a microphone, but of course we mostly couldn't hear it. Poor B was completely, totally overwhelmed by this whole fiasco. Very counterproductive.

If only that stupid storm could have held off a few more hours. Wahhh. I felt bad for the principal/teachers trying to coordinate this last minute change in the plan. What a challenge for them.

I was annoyed, however, that about 50% of the teachers didn't have their school supplies list prepared, even though we were told to expect this from them today. WTF? They say they'll have it ready on the first day of school (Monday).

That is not exactly role modeling the organized, prepared behavior they expect the kids to have.

UPDATE
———————

I suppose it all worked out in the end. After I posted the above account, I was taking another look at her schedule and it dawned on me that perhaps she did NOT get placed in the Title I math program, even though her 5th grade teacher assured me that she had made the recommendation and B would have NO problem getting placed. (I know, can I really be that naive and not more proactive?? Argh at self.)

So I called the school as soon as they opened today and sure enough, B had been placed in the regular classroom. When doing the assignments they went purely by AIMS results (and B did very well on her AIMS, in spite of completely failing the last semester of math). Anxiety, not ability, is definitely her issue.

Not sure how they missed the teacher recommendation, but I can accept that these things happen. Thankfully, they got it all set to rights and called me to pick up B's new schedule. As it turns out, that change shuffled pretty much everything else up as well, so we did our walking tour this afternoon with the schedule in hand and B feels much more comfortable about it all.

She was, however, a little chagrined when she learned that her math class is Title I. ("Now I *really* feel like an idiot!") <sigh>

Can't win. LOL. Poor B.

PS: When the school secretary (also visibly pregnant) asks when you're due and you get to say "4 days ago" – hey, that's kind of fun.

PPS: OH, one cool thing about this year – they have a homework club program that is available every Mon-Thurs from 2:45 – 4:30 – and then there's a 4:30 bus! Woo! Bailey's knee jerk reaction was to be very opposed to this homework club thing, but we have negotiated a plan. She is responsible for maintaining a passing grade in math (or any subject). I will not monitor her homework. As long as she maintains that passing grade, she can decide or not to take advantage of the homework club. If the grade dips to a D or lower, however, then some amount of homework club (maybe 2x per week? more?) will be mandatory until the grade has been rectified.

She seems to like this plan, but we'll see how the reality pans out. During the course of the discussion, she also seemed to start warming up to the idea of the club and thought she might take advantage of it some weeks when the math units were particularly difficult for her.

I am crossing my fingers that this is a smoother year for her than 5th grade was…

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Work: Lots of projects and deadlines. I need to get more done, faster. This entry is not helping. But all the little stuff I've been wanting to post about has been intruding on my focus, so blogging right now is actually good for the big work picture. Yep. It's true.

Health: Most of the kids are sick with a cold, one which Scott and I are desperately begging our immune systems to repel. I'm almost 14 weeks pregnant. Food sounds good again. Haven't felt the baby move yet, but hoping I will notice it any day now. My energy levels have improved over the past few weeks, except I'm draining the reserve as quickly as it replenishes, because…

Evenings: Have been hell. Neurofeedback or orthdontist or parent teacher conferences were scheduled EVERY NIGHT for the past TWO weeks. And some days, there have ALSO been daytime doctor appointments. I'm a sloth. My body and my psyche are not used to this treatment. Thankfully a more normal routine is set to commence next week.

Good news: For the past three years, HM's teachers have recommended her for the school district's gifted program. She just tested again (CogAT) last week and this time she qualified with a 95th percentile score in verbal reasoning (that's my girl!). She's been wanting to participate in this program – it's a full day, once per week – so she's pretty excited and proud of herself.

More good news: I think B's neurofeedback sessions are making a difference! Even her younger sisters have been observing positive behavior changes. She seems to have more energy, is more alert, more confident, more peaceful and calm. She doesn't mumble as much and she seems to hear/listen with less effort than before.

B commented the other day, when she was coming down with this cold, that even though she felt miserable that day, she felt like she could handle her schoolwork. Usually she struggles to cope with her schoolwork even when perfectly healthy. Then today I reminded her to take her medicine before school and she said, "I really don't think I need it today." Hmmm. I let her go without it – will be interesting to see how she felt today.

Of course, time will tell exactly how these changes impact her performance in math, but I'm optimistic. She has a lot of catching up to do, but she's always been bright, in spite of the ADHD fog, and she works hard.

My amazing husband: CupCate's wifey entry has inspired me to blog a little public husband appreciation. The last couple weeks, with so much work and so many late nights and schedule juggling to make the appointments work out – and all the stress that goes along with that – well, it's been as hard on my boy as it's been on me. But he's hugged me lots and lots when I was grumpy, had dinner all but ready several nights when we got home after 7 pm and has just generally been there for me in all kinds of ways big and small. He's always like that, but he did try extra hard, especially this past week.

And he never, ever treats me or talks about me like "the ball and chain" (even when I'm acting like it). He says I'm his wife like he's honored by the association.

Deciding to grow old with him is the best idea I ever had. (He'll point out it was his idea first and that's true, so technically I suppose I should say it's the best idea I ever consented to.

My man is the best.

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