And it's freaking me out!! We've gone to observe classrooms and the OTs and PTs are starting to call and make appointments to come and observe PJ. Holy cow....how is it possible that he's going to be 3 and that in 3 months he'll be going to school?!?! I remember talking about it, like "oh, yeah, he'll start school when he's three...." but it always seemed far away. Now it's coming...and fast!

Stephanie (Stephlong) and I have been talking about this lots lately since PJ and Michael are only a week apart. So, all of you experienced parents of 3+ year olds...please, please, PLEASE tell me that I won't have an anxiety attack over this (okay, breathe....I need a paper bag!)!!

I remember the pics of Sarah's first day of school....she looked so adorable with her little backpack!

April, we have just gone through all the evaluations and are just waiting for our meeting. I found it a frustrating experience. Our therapists have constantly emphasized all the progress Anna has made, whereas the evaluators only look for deficits. I know intellectually that they are doing that so they can justify continued services, but emotionally it is difficult to have someone point out every nuance of why your child is not typical. I've been through a similar thing with my older child and I've learned to not pay that much attention to the opinions of the evaluators. You live with PJ so you know him far better than any evaluator who has seen him for an hour. Good luck.

Mary,

One of the things that I find annoying is that they send strangers in for the evals. I think someone explained it to me that they want to come in "fresh" and not "biased" in any way. Personally, I think that's kind of stupid. PJ would benefit far more, I think, if the new people came to observe when his normal OT or PT came. He's worked with them for years. He knows them & cooperates for them. He looks at these new people like "and you're who? you want me to do what? I don't think so." The OT even said to me "oh, he'll probably test low since all I have to go on is parent report. But don't be discouraged because you know what he does or doesn't do." Um, that what's the point of you coming here?! I agree that it's frustrating. And I also agree that I don't need the negative pointed out to me. I think he'll do well in school, I don't want to start off feeling badly about things, and so far I'd say it's been a "so-so" experience.

The person that did the psych eval was this huge man. He was a nice enough guy, but Anna is used to female therapists and just wouldn't have anything to do with him. When it was all over, she, who never ever has tantrums, screamed for 45 minutes straight she was so freaked out by the guy. She had flatly refused to do one whole portion of the test, and was scored a zero in that section, but despite that did pretty well overall. I resent the fact that we have to put these little people through this. Anna had 5 separate evaluations--about 8 hours total in a week. By the end of it she was completely uncooperative.

April, it's beginning for us, too - Aleena is a January baby. We just had our initial appt just going over what is to come in the next few months. She'll actually go through all the testing in November. Like you, I can hardly believe the time has come! I remember thinking when she was 1 1/2 that I was only half-way through! 'Blink' and here we go!

We are starting the process too....we are 6 months from the big 3. I had a meeting last week with with his service coord. and his current teacher, and I called to set up an observation at the school. Alex is currently enrolled in a special needs toddler class (it's 4 mornings a week), so I'm hoping that will ease the transition anxiety for me. I plan for him to stay in that class until the end of this school year and he will start pre-school next fall. It is a big step though.....and yes it has gone very quickly!

Kennedy started school this year at 3 years of age. We went through the evaluation process in April, and they also sent new evaluators in, not her regular therapists. I was a bit upset about some of her scores, but realized in the end it was probably a good thing. She is now receiving more therapy during her school day, which I think is wonderful.
I was a complete mess the weeks prior to school starting but.......Kennedy LOVES school! Loves, loves, loves it! She loves the bus, her drivers, the kids in her class, her teachers, therapists, etc. And although she has only been in school a month, I see HUGE difference in her already. She is so much more verbal. It seems she has grown up overnight. It is quite amazing!