Comments on aidan. sawyer. reese. miller. corbin.: before school begins.

Beautiful post Amanda, blessings to you all this n...

2015-08-06T20:22:09.993-05:00

Beautiful post Amanda, blessings to you all this new year ♥

I wish that was a requirement for all elementary s...

2015-08-06T07:56:14.733-05:00

I wish that was a requirement for all elementary school kids! "Here is a letter from my mom tell you all about the nitty gritty of ME!"

Those first few weeks might be a bit easier! Thank you so much for commenting and for everything you said. Means so much.

haha! Thank you! Man, I would love to do something...

2015-08-06T07:54:47.605-05:00

haha! Thank you! Man, I would love to do something like that - and thank you for your motivational words. You are awesome.

Oh I can't imagine how hard that was! Thank yo...

2015-08-06T07:53:44.341-05:00

Oh I can't imagine how hard that was! Thank you so much for your sweet words. Your girl is so strong and amazing.

Oh friend, it will be wonderful for both of us!

2015-08-06T07:52:17.863-05:00

Oh friend, it will be wonderful for both of us!

My daughter is going into her second year of ECSE,...

2015-08-06T07:46:49.749-05:00

My daughter is going into her second year of ECSE, and I'm terrified of mainstream, which will happen when she begins Kindergarten next year. Good luck to your family. I'm sure Reesey will do great, but I'll be watching for updates for reassurance. Thank you so much for sharing this. It's nice to feel less alone.

Awesome Mommy, lucky kids! When, not if, when you ...

2015-08-06T05:35:04.029-05:00

Awesome Mommy, lucky kids! When, not if, when you write, and publish, the story of Reese, please include every single blog. You cannot imagine the impact you would have. Not only to parents trying to navigate the path you have already walked and mastered, with all of the ways you have made raising an awesome family with tons of kids and a very ill child, but because it is a story that is sad, happy, frightening, gut wrenching, euphoric and, often, just plain freakin hilarious. I would buy 6 copies. Because someone very wise once told me, "when you read a book that touches your heart, buy 5 more copies and give them to others who need their heart touched". Write it Amanda!! Because "if you write it, they will come" it could be in every pediatric cancer center in this country. To offer help and guidance to so many who are on the path that you have walked with so much grace.

oh yes we have a totally ironed out IEP and have h...

2015-08-05T23:10:53.559-05:00

oh yes we have a totally ironed out IEP and have had several meetings (she's had an IEP since Jan 2014) ;) this is just heart feelings. haha her transitional ARD was april and she has her yearly again in november. Plus extra things in between. They are amazing and all of her therapy has been set up for a long time. I didnt think anything I said was revolutionary ;)

In my youngest's K class, it was 100% mainstre...

2015-08-05T23:02:01.485-05:00

In my youngest's K class, it was 100% mainstream with all kinds of children with all kinds of issues (including him). Not one kid batted an eye at the other's differences. Only questions and then invites to play. If she doesn't have an IEP, you should request one. She will need the school based OT anyway. None of what you wrote is anything the teachers aren't expecting. I'm surprised they didn't meet with you at the end of the prior school year. I walked into the school the April before my new kinder's first day of school in September to hand them some paperwork. They requested a quick meeting and I went in on May 1st to address the team.

This is precious! I'm so thankful for your pos...

2015-08-05T22:15:13.744-05:00

This is precious! I'm so thankful for your posts and blog. Hailey started high school two years ago bald and I too wanted to write these words, and tell people these thing.... On a much older scale but similar struggles. I was amazed at how the kids treated her. They were amazing!! I can't imagine anyone not loving this sweet girl of yours. She is one of my favorite littles to watch through technology! You and your family are such a blessing to mine!

You are so amazing Amanda! I am one your "sil...

2015-08-05T20:10:47.388-05:00

You are so amazing Amanda! I am one your "silent followers" but felt the need to comment on this post as it really spoke to me (and made me tear up!) I am a teacher, but was previously an Educational Assistant who supported students with special needs. This "letter" allowed me to see into the heart of you, a parent, and made me emotional thinking about how hard it is for you to trust us with your kiddos :) I know as a teacher and an Educational Assistant I would have found reading this very helpful, and it definitely would have set the tone for me as someone new working with Reese. Maybe you would consider providing her team at school with something similar? Perhaps not as personal, or as detailed, but a one page "About Reese" type document for them to reference or read over before getting started with her in a few weeks. Heck, you probably already have!! Good luck to YOU, Mama and of course Miss. Reese, she is incredible and will continue to blow your socks off- no doubt!!