Last week was a tough week and I was feeling my age big time. I guess that is why parenting is usually for the younger crowd! I shared my fatigue and emotional drain with my husband and he provided a most interesting analogy.


He’s a sports fan (along with Kyle) and most especially a Kansas City Chiefs fan. He said professional athletes reach their physical peak in their twenties, but don’t have as much mental understanding of the game at that point in their lives. By the time they are in their thirties or early forties, they are far more knowledgeable about their sport, but their bodies are past their prime. However, my husband thinks they are better athletes overall, and more successful at their sport. I'm not sure if science or research supports his hypothesis, but it is an interesting one, isn't it?


Based on this line of thinking, he figures I am probably at my most effective point in therapeutic parenting, notwithstanding the fact that my body is selling me out.


I have to admit, this time around with Dora has been easier in terms of knowing what to do and say. She’s plenty bright and plenty motivated to have a “normal” life, so that makes my job infinitely easier. But I have also learned the hard way not to take things personally. My husband asked me if anything Dora had done thus far felt like a personal attack on me. I thought about it briefly and replied, “No.” He said he could tell that was true by watching me with Dora, but he wanted me to say it out loud and realize it myself.


I was planning on starting Dora in school today, half days for an indeterminate period of time. I thought it was all arranged, based on this conversation.


Yesterday, on the eve of Dora's entrance into school, the principal emailed me and stated she “just learned” I was planning on Dora only attending half days. She acquiesced that we could do that for a week, but after that Dora needed to attend full time to “socially, emotionally and academically adjust” to the new school. I promptly returned her email and stated I would not be enrolling Dora if it was mandated she attend full time in one week. Part of the issue here is funding … of course. They want her enrolled by the 19th because after that they don’t get funding for her the rest of the year. I am happy to do so, under the terms we clearly discussed last week … I decide (with input from her teacher) when she is ready for full time. We will do reading and math in the morning, and she will arrive at school after lunch and be with the same teacher all afternoon. It might be a week, a month or a semester before I think Dora is ready for a longer schedule. I can't make that call until she begins school. I will homeschool her before I place her in an environment that she is not ready to handle. I was foolish to think it would be this easy, wasn't I? I’ll keep you posted!


Photo Credit--Trent Green, ex-KC Chief!