The peace of mind of having an advocate!!!!

May 17, 2008

This is the first time since 2005/2006 that I don't have to worry

about my daughter's upcoming ARD! That's not to say I am not going to

but not like I have had to in the past.

Of course, this newfound nirvana came after my last conversation with

my advocate, Phil, when I made the comment that I wasn't clear on our

course of action and so I didn't know what I was supposed to be doing

to prepare for her ARD this coming Friday! His reply, " Nothing. " At

my incredulous response of " what?! " . He said, " All you need to do is

relax. " When I said, " But what about her goals and ... " . He

interrupted with, " You aren't going to be any good for your daughter

if you are so stressed out. Just relax. I will write the goals. You

don't have to do anything. You don't even have to say anything if you

don't want to. " The past has shown me that it doesn't matter what

concerns I voice, regardless of how collaborative this process is

supposed to be, it doesn't change anything they have already decided

was going to be. So, the opportunity to just sit back and let someone

else deal with them is just almost incomprehensible. That doesn't

mean I'm not reading books, and the IDEA laws handbook someone

suggested I print and read So, for the time being, I am enjoying this

wonderful feeling of peace and calm.

I know it is fleeting and I know the painful reality of the costs

(and the ultimate decision of what I can afford to do)is going to

come crashing down in the next day or so (as soon as I hear back from

Amy and Phil). But until I have to think about how in the world am I

going to pay for this, right now, I get to experience what it is like

to have someone on your side and on your team and I am enjoying every

bit of it!

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