BlogHer - back to school - Comments

Scholarships may help...

Lisen Stromberg — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:14:48 -0500

But who calls the doctor when the fever has hit, who schedules the dentist appointment, attends the teacher conference, brings snack for the soccer team? My husband is incredibly involved and engaged but I'm still the one who knows the peditrician on a first name basis. Perhaps I am just not willing to let go...

See the smiley face...

Lisen Stromberg — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:10:38 -0500

LEB - your secret spy code is out. Thank you.

The eagle has landed...

Lisen Stromberg — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:09:18 -0500

Willful Woman -

Thank you for your kind words. My apologies for not responding earlier - the house has become a pig pen (we are all mucking around with Swine Flu). Love your website and your posting about the wise women walking for peace. Inspirational.

Lisen

Yep! Been there...

zazupitts — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:24:18 -0500

Honestly, it's a balancing act where no one wins...and someone always loses out. Take a typical morning in caregiverland: Take husband to work. Walk niece to her elementary class. Give mom her meds, breakfast and put her back in bed for a morning nap. Conference call with co-worker on the East Coast (done while I comb my niece's hair).

To be honest, having a career that allows me flextime at home in the mornings is the only way I have survived! I wonder if there are any other caregivers and Sandwhich Generation folks who have changed careers to accomodate these time demands?

Living in Caregiverland

www.Caregiverland.com

Awesome article! Thank

amjro — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:27:28 -0500

Awesome article! Thank goodness for scholarships, eh?

Rising

LEB — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:02:06 -0500

Lisen, For a newly-minted fiction writer, you deliver a truckload of truth. No matter the path we take, whether we stay home full-time or work outside the home, too, we lose ourselves in motherhood. It's not just the grind of the details and the worries, but also the achievements, too. Whose were those anyway? Wishing you happiness and success on your journey. No guts no glory, Old Friend.

You're allready soaring!

Willful Woman — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:10:41 -0500

Lisen,

Congratulations to you for all your years of hard work raising your family and for now taking the time to focus on your own interests and follow your own dream. You've already accomplished so much and taught your children so much. How lucky those students are to have you in class with them to share your perspective on life! Be good to yourself.

You rise. You rise.

In sisterhood,

Willful Woman www.besidethestonewall.com

We are very fortunate; Leo

Shannon Des Roches Rosa — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:42:54 -0500

We are very fortunate; Leo has a great teacher, and had one for the past two years as well. Wish the same could always be true, for all of our kids.

Shannon Des Roches Rosa
Squidalicious.com parenting first, autism second
CanISitWithYou.org real tales of schoolyard terror and triumph

Thank you

Lisen Stromberg — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:15:59 -0500

You have just reminded me (all of us) that complaining is a luxury and that each moment is precious. My prayers are with you.

Lisen

Lost Summer

Mammakaze — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:04:14 -0500

When summer began I stood in mortified horror before the prospect of entertaining a 7 year old girl for 74, yes 74, days straight. What would we do? Where would we go? How would I maintain my sanity and keep myself from losing my voice as a result of raising when she said "I'm bored" for the umpteenth time. After all, when I was a kid my mother's contribution to a summer day was," Come home when the streetlights come on." We were free to roam without cell phones, or tracking devices of any kind.

So I dreaded the endless days of coming up with activities. And then part way through the summer, I became very ill. So ill that I could barely get out of bed at times. In fact, I did lose my voice. Not from yelling at my kid, but because severe laryngeal spasms required I get Botox in my vocal chords so my oxygen wouldn't be cut off. And as the spasms disappeared, so too did my voice.

And as I lay in bed watching the summer days pass and seeing my daughter go out with my husband or friends...my only thought was that I wished I could be with her. At night, I lamented the loss of my voice and my inability to read to her or sing her the lullabies that I had sung her every night since she was born.

I am slowly healing from my illness. But now summer is turning to autumn and my daughter is back at school and away from me for so many hours a day, I realize that I have missed precious time with my little girl that can never be replaced.

And I know I will never complain about the onset of summer again.

www.mammakaze.com

Great Blog

Bailey4 — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:38:39 -0500

I was just blogging about this topic. Your letter was so well written and so important for your child's teacher. You provided specific detailed information for the teacher to use. So often we need imput from parents and we don't have time to get the feedback from the previous year teachers that we need. Parents who provide specific information can really help a teacher understand a child's need in a way an IEP just does not express.

Great blog entry!

words we need to hear

autismvox — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 23:10:07 -0500

thanks for this letter, Shannon---it's kickstarted my thinking about what to write to Charlie's teacher before he returns to school. Off to work on it---

still soapvoxing, now @ kristinachew.com

Lovely letter

Squillo — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 10:46:29 -0500

Leo is so lucky. I love how you laid out your primary objective for the year; special needs kids often have so many goals in addition to the basic academic expectations. Having a #1 priority (and spelling out the reason it's #1) is such a great idea.

Thanks for sharing this!

Great Letter!

Niksmom — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:05:05 -0500

I can only imagine how Leo's teacher will feel when she reads that letter. I wish there were teachers like her in my area; I'd actually consider putting my son back in school!

http://maternalinstincts.wordpress.com

Those Stan by Vincent shoes

DomesticNest — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:56:28 -0500

Those Stan by Vincent shoes are so super cute! Not only do they look fabulous, but your teacher will be so grateful for the easy velcro. I've taught preschool before and as hip as Converse Chucks are for little kids, they are a nightmare when it's time to don & doff. Thanks for posting these modern, fun options!