You know it's Fall when you spend a tedious ten minutes unwrapping caramel squares. Knowing it was worth it when you're dipping freshly picked apple slices into hot melted caramel and chopped walnuts.
You know it's Fall when you're cooking dinner with the sliding glass door open so you can listen to the sound of kids playing outside and leaving it open until the voices fade into the sound of crickets chirping.
You know it's Fall when you're sitting in your car on a Saturday morning waiting in line to get into a local Fall Festival.
Then you wait in more lines to ride on the giant slide, get something to eat, see the bunnies, pose with the giant wooden Elmo character and take a turn sitting on the tractor.
And grin from ear to ear as you watch your daughter pick the most perfect little pumpkin and hold it in her lap the entire ride home.
You know it's Fall when you're hanging out on the front steps playing with babies, blowing bubbles and writing names on the sidewalk with chalk instead of doing the dishes from lunch. And breakfast.
You know it's Fall when you pick your daughter up from school, find a restaurant with outdoor seating then head over to the park to play.
And instead of going home at nap time, you head down the path toward a quiet little stream to spend the rest of the afternoon making ripples in the water with tiny stones and watching the leaves float by.
Soaking up the warm air~ drinking it in because you know that soon it will be gone.
Last month was our first session of The Learning Program. For the people that have not heard about this program, here is a very brief overview:
The Learning Program uses evidence-based methods and strategies to teach children with Down Syndrome, supplements traditional education in literacy and mathematics, supports ST and OT needs, provides individualized support to families and supports parents/teachers in the educational process.
Our Learning Program is separated into two levels, Pre-K and Level 1. Lila's birthdate put her in Level 1.
A description of the two levels:
TLP Pre-K(ages 24 – 48 months; eligible date of birth 10/1/2006-9/30/2008)
TLP Pre-K is for DSANV families with a child with Ds between 24 and 48 months according to the Fairfax County School Calendar.Parents and children will spend the hour together working on the development of pre‐literacy, fine motor, language, and numeracy skills in a play‐based environment.
TLP Level 1(ages 4 – 6; eligible date of birth 9/30/2004-9/30/2006)
TLP Level 1 is for DSANV families with a child with Ds between 4 and 6 years old according to the Fairfax County School Calendar. Parents receive monthly 90-minute instruction on a wide range of topics such as “Teaching Your Child To Read,” “Introduction To Math,” and “Creating An Effective Learning Session,” while children spend time with professional teachers working on the development of literacy, language, fine motor, and numeracy skills.
Lila's birthday is in the middle of September, 2006. She barely made the cut-off for Level 1 so that meant she would be one of the youngest kids in with the "older kids" and that made me very nervous. To me, the Pre-K program whispered "comfort level" and the Level I program screamed "Intimidating!"
I just found the e-mail that I sent when I submitted Lila's application for the program.
"Hello! Attached please find the application for our daughter Lila to be entered into the DSANV Learning Program lottery. If possible, we would like to apply to be entered into the Pre-K program instead of the Level 1 Program. Lila's birthday is 9/17/06 and we are concerned that she might not be ready for the Level 1 Class."
I got this response:
At the moment, we are enrolling children based strictly on age criteria. This is an imperfect method, but given that this program is new, we are waiting until we are more experienced before considering adjustments or exceptions to that policy. Having said that, we do plan on assessing each child individually as the year progresses, and are open to changes later on, space permitting. If you are accepted into the program, there will be an open house prior to the first session which might be a good opportunity to chat further with us and the teaching staff about your concerns.
Please feel free to contact us with any other questions.
Hmmmmm...................
Seriously, I was so nervous. About so many different aspects. To me, the Pre-K program whispered "comfort level" and the Level I program screamed "Intimidating!" My brain went crazy.
What if it is way over Lila's head and she starts acting out? Will it be too loud in there? Will the professionals recognize if Lila is over-stimulated? What if they don't? Should I spend the money if it is just going to be a waste of time? Wouldn't it be better if she were in the Pre-K class so I could work with her? I know her best! Blah, blah, blah.............
Excuse me, obsessive-compulsive control freak!
I calmed myself down and paid the money. You know the rest. I was wrong, of course. Over-protective, under-estimating, and just plain wrong. Lila loves it.
I love it because the materials are provided. I don't have to do anything but work with her. I know me and if I had to do my own printing, cutting, laminating, etc. it might not get done for a while. If ever. Just being honest here. About six months ago I decided to start a sight-reading program with Lila. Know how far I got with that idea? Me, Lila and a Magna Doodle. Impressive, right? Thank goodness for The Learning Program. We're actually moving forward here!
Here is a video I took this afternoon:
We are so proud of her! Sorry for under-estimating you sweet girl!
Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month! Many of my blogging friends are participating in 31 for 21, where you pledge to blog every day in October for Down Syndrome Awareness. (31 days in October, 21 for the extra copy of the 21st chromosome present in individuals with Down syndrome.)
Yeah, I'm pretty sure I would not be able to keep that pledge so I'm not going to make it.
What I am going to do is to help spread awareness in other ways. I am writing an article on Down Syndrome awareness that will be published in the monthly e-newsletter for our women's club and in Lila's public school newsletter. I am hopeful that I will be able to publish the article in a few other places- a monthly Mom's publication in our area, my old hometown newspaper and the DEA World Newsletter. I will be attaching pictures of Lila and a few of her friends (with permission) to these articles.
I realize that I'm not the best writer around and my pictures are not that great but that is not important. What matters is getting the words out.
That we are all more alike than different.
That we all have value.
That we are all fearfully and wonderfully made.
In honor of Lila and all individuals with Down Syndrome, I changed my Facebook profile picture to this:
And Tiffani used Picnik to create this for profile picture:
And then her brother wanted one too:
So she decided to make one for me too! Love it!
When I put Lila to bed- either for a nap or for the night I always tell her how precious she is. And what a blessing she is to our family. That I'm proud of her. That I'm thankful for her. And I am. I'm so thankful for the gift of her life. I have no doubt that she is exactly as God intended her to be.
It's Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Spread the word.
