Special Ed Parents as Squeaky Wheels

This morning I emailed DuckyBoy's team right after he got on the bus. This is an excerpt:

Subj: Concert Practice

Good morning everyone!
I'm sending this just in case anyone reads this before practice -- FYI, [DB] did not get any "warning" that there is practice today.

He barely got up and ready and on the bus by my focusing on all the positives of today (they were: a [speech therapist] session, enrichment cluster, nuggets for lunch, the new gummies packed in his lunch, and Family Fitness night ...); I thought he'd give up completely if I mentioned music.

Sending that made me feel like a squeaky wheel -- something I never think of myself as. But letting them know this puts my son in thier mind, lets them know where his head is at. (Although, as they all know, he could be completely fine by the time he gets to school.)

DuckyBoy himself is also a squeaky wheel. While it's sometimes frustrating to have the kid who talks, talks, talks nonstop, most of the time I'm grateful he is willing to share what he is thinking and feeling, so we know how to help.

It made me think of one of his classmates, one of the quiet ones. And his mom is quiet as well. She has told me that every morning is rough for her son -- so, probably like this morning was for us. I imagine her cajoling him out of bed, and nudging him through what has to be done and down to the bus.

I wonder -- does the school team know that mornings are rough for him? Because maybe knowing that might help them help him.

And I now know we have a better team by far than many schools. Some parents have to be squeaky wheels just to get their children the basic services they need to overcome a delay or learning issue. It's tiring for me -- has to be exhausting for them.