Summer....

....is winding down for us. It has been a great summer and i truly don't want it to end. It's not that i am a fan of hot, humid, miserable weather because nothing could be farther from the truth! The end of this summer starts a whole new journey for Emma and i....she will be a kindergartner. Yep, you've read that correctly, my little daughter will be starting school.

While she did attend pre-k last year, we didn't get accepted to the program till early January and it wasn't a full day program. Emma had a lot of challenges in pre-k....i affectionately referred to her as the "pre-k rebel". We were blessed to have a wonderful first year teacher that i can't say enough about. Ms. Kelly was amazing through the many issues that we (okay, 'she') had with Emma. It was obvious that there were somethings going on with Emma that we have had to address....and once i was finally able to figure out some of those issues, my daughter's personality and traits fell into place where i could understand them and understand why Emma was, well, Emma. I finally understood that all of the odd traits that Emma had weren't just 'traits' that made Emma the little girl that she is.

My little girl has SPD.

Sensory Processing Disorder.

Suddenly, everything made sense. I understood the reasons why Emma covered her ears when there were certain loud noises. I understood the reasons why she tasted and smelled e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. I understood the reasons why she throws herself on the floor. I understood the reasons why she jumped and bounced all of the time. I understood the reasons why she colors and writes her letters the way she does. I understood the reasons why things were just too much for her, she would act the way she did.

I finally understood.

I finally got it.

Understanding and fixing are two different things. SPD therapy helps to teach Emma how to deal with issues through play. You can't really 'fix' SPD; you just learn to deal with it better. At Emma's age, she just deals with these issues the best way she can. A good example is if we are in an area where there are loud noises, she will clamp her hands over her ears and stomp her feet as she walks. That's her way of dealing with the noise....some how, the stomping of her feet soothes her.

SPD therapy is helping. I will be the first to admit that when i saw what she would be doing in therapy, well, lets just say i didn't get get it. Jumping on a mini-trampoline and landing on foamy things? Going through sock tunnels? Digging out little items that were stuck inside some kind of stuff that looked like play-doh? Picking out mini-dinosaurs with tongs out of a container of beans? Swinging on a large swing in it's own room while laying on her stomach?!? Really? This would help??

Yep.

These things are helping.

And i am grateful.

I have to say that i am in total love with our school district. The teachers that i have met and the people that they have in place to help children are amazing. They truly care for the students in their care. These teachers want your child to have the best possible experience in school that they can have. These teachers want your child to love school and learning. They are amazing...

So, in a week, Emma will have her first full day of kindergarten. Please keep her in your prayers that she loves school and that i also adjust to her being in school. I'm afraid that kindergarten has sneaked up on me and i'm a bit sad that this time with Emma is coming to an end. I'm excited for her, though...she will meet new friends and she will learn so very much. Emma loves being around other children, so i'm keeping my fingers crossed that all will be well and that any issues with her SPD will be something that we can successfully deal with.

sigh...It's time for my little one to take another step towards growing up into a big girl, isn't it?