Oh man, I got annoyed today! I had a dr appointment for a refill on my migraine meds. So we live on a small island and of course I am am friends with my doc, so it took 2 seconds and then we were just sitting visiting, and of course well the topic veered to DD. Seriously how come no one gets it? She knows DD, gets how different she is, but for some reason, I "should put DD in school next year" even though the school has already evaluated her, told me that they will "never be able to do anything academically for her," and that "gifted kids sometimes just have to be miserable in the elementary years." Even being told by their own developmental psy that if they were going to not do anything academically they at least needed to help her socially which would still include at least a grade skip, they refuse. Needless to say, I don't have much hope working with them, the gifted quote was off the record by the so called gifted coordinator for the district- (she does nothing but a few extra projects for the highschool kids, and is actually the ESL teacher) My friend/doc knows all this but still, thinks DD should be in K next year in this environment with no acceleration, no differentiation, just so that she can learn patience with the kids her age (something she gets plenty in her other activities daily) and so I can have "Alone time".
I was so frustrated. I definitely felt like it was overstepping a boundary since it was still somewhat in the doc/patient relationship. But I think I was more upset because it just reminds me how much people don't get my daughter. It just seems to imply dh and I don't agonize over everything we do as parents to nurture this sweet child we have been given. I want the best for my daughter, so of course I think out, reason, second guess every decision I make. And it was frustrating. I have seen dd frustrating in the preschool setting for the same reason she did not thrive at all, so we removed her and she has thrived. I remember my school experience before I received the appropriate acceleration and gifted program, and I cried everyday. I don't want that for her, and it would be nice if people respected my decision.
Okay, I know, long and random vent, but I was just really frustrated. Anyway, my head is hurting and I am headed to bed, but this is really the only place I could share and have people possibly understand.
If you read this, thanks for listening
