The Parents Are All Stressed

For those who don’t have children in school, it’s the only subject any parents can talk about for the past month. 

It’s been very stressful - more so with a child who has interventions / IEP.

Our district decided on offering 5 days in person or all remote learning. We decided on remote for various reasons:

• health
• stability/consistency (with infections and symptoms, people will be in and out and the school could shut down quickly)
• we stay “clean” to continue seeing grandparents and extended family
• we stay “clean” to play with other kids who are doing remote in the neighborhood

However. Spring remote therapies was a bust. I had to schedule them into my already busy work schedule and small kids just can’t hang. PT was okay. Speech was fairly okay. But OT just isn’t possible remotely - that was all on us to facilitate. 

Our district netted about about 80% going back in person 5 days a week, 20% remote. 

Leading up, there has been a lot of complaining, impatience, emails, etc. - all from parents of course. 

Our entire district learned at 2pm last Friday that school is being delayed a week. Teachers were not prepared - they have been learning updates the same time parents have - ! They have been told they are teaching remotely right before the deadline hit, people are already switching over to remote learning before in-person started - it’s already been a mess. Frankly, I feel more time and planning has been spent on getting kids in school versus a solid remote plan. And why not, right? Schools get state funding by how many are enrolled :: sigh ::

We did learn a few weeks ago that our summer caregiver is taking the year off from her Early Education major - it was supposed to be a student teaching year. SO - that’s good news - she will be sticking with us to manage Hannah’s remote learning and transporting her to and from therapies. Although this wasn’t in our budget, and we’ll have to tighten up, it will be worth our sanity. 

Nora will be setting up shop with Tim and I in our bedroom “office.” Whenever this pandemic is under control and we get to leave this bedroom, I’m giving it a full makeover so it feels fresh and wash memories of working from home here. 

We received their schedules on the Friday before remote learning starts. Hannah’s therapies are all scheduled. Chromebooks are set up. Let’s roll. 

Wish all parents good luck and be gentle with us - emotions will be high! 

New Dentist, Same Result

I tried out a new pediatric dentist last week, a little farther away - it’s a larger practice with more rooms, even a “sensory” room. Our visit was merely an exam, not a cleaning. 

I had my phone ready with Hannah’s favorite show, but we still went through the same sh*t. 

Let me go over what we’ve tried practicing with Hannah:

• Electric toothbrush against her skin
• OT exercises to get her comfortable with hands in her mouth
• Laying down and counting her teeth
• Dentist visit books
• Dentist visit videos

Hannah was cooperative at first... we hung out in the parking lot until a staff member escorted us in. They took our temps and we walked through the office. We came to a room and Hannah immediately was reluctant to even get up in the chair. 

I got her up in the chair and she FOUGHT to lay back. 

The dentist, myself and the hygienist tried out best to no avail. The dentist said Hannah needs to first practice just laying down in the chair - which is the most vulnerable position which is probably why Hannah fights it so much. AHA! No one has ever explained that to me. 

Tim took Hannah to a 2nd “Happy Visit” and she did a bit better, but did lay back for a second and let the hygienist show her the tools and look in her mouth a bit. 

I want to continue regular Happy Visits. A gal at the front desk made some comment about “Oh after one Happy Visit, kids are usually good.” I wanted to give her the biggest eyeroll. It’s not that simple, lady. 

I’m hoping with monthly Happy Visits, we can get to an actual cleaning in January.