Some days I wish my kids were a bit older or more mature for one reason or another, and others I wish they would slow down. With Travis I am torn, I love seeing him grow and mature, yet feel like I can't always remember every little detail when he was a baby, the moments I never wanted to forget.
Yesterday I went to Travis's annual IEP meeting. I always am a bit worried before these cause I am never sure what they are going to say. The trend lately everywhere is to push these kids off their IEP's cause it saves the schools money in the long run. So far we have been lucky that he seems to hang on to that last little bit of their guidelines to qualify. As most with kids that have Aspergers or really any disability when it comes to schools a diagnosis from a medical professional means nothing when trying to get services in the school. They have to meet educational guidelines, and they are not always easy to meet. Most parents are forced to fight the schools just like we fight insurance companies.
Elementary school and Middle school were always tough for Travis, he was bullied and generally picked on for no reason other then he was "different". I was very upset when I found out that he would not be going to the same High school as most of his friends. Friends he had been in school with since 1st grade. But in the long run it is actually working out to be a great thing. He still sees the friends he isn't with and still has some he knows at his school, but the bigger thing is he has made many new ones. He joined the Robotics Club, has had some amazing teachers who have inspired him .
At yesterdays IEP meeting they had his case worker, his guidance counselors , and 3 different teachers came in during the meeting. The very good news is Travis still qualifies for services, but he will have the amount of time he spends with his case worker greatly reduced. This is good because he has been missing out on some classes he wanted because he was losing a whole class period everyday.
His electronics teacher said he wants him to take a certain class next year based on his performance and potential and said that sometimes they cancel classes if there are not enough kids signed up but he is going to make sure this one doesn't and that Travis gets in it. He also said Travis is doing better in his class then all the other kids and in fact has many extra credit points, where his grade is beyond an A+.
Then his History teacher came in she said she is so excited for Travis because she recommended he take AP History next year. While it is much harder she really believes he can do it, and because he loves History so much he will thrive in this class. I am excited because I feel he sometimes he isn't challenged enough & at the end of the year he will have a chance to test out and get college credit as well as high school credit. She said he is a wonderful student and if everyone of her students were like him her job would be so easy.
Next was his Physics teacher. He said he is very impressed with Travis and it has been many years since he has had a student like Travis. When they are doing things in class he said Travis will ask many questions and the other kids get looks on their faces like "Hmmm. I never thought of that." He said that on many occasions Travis will ask questions that he has to stop and think about the answer or he needs to find out cause he doesn't know. He says Travis is very inventive and takes a leadership role in the class.
The only negative anyone said was sometimes he turns his work in late, not often but sometime. We discussed this and found it is an organizational issue and while kids aren't allowed to carry a backpack in school they do have exceptions and those kids are given a backpack pass. This is something we are considering.
I was in complete shock over some of the things the teachers were telling me, because Travis is a very shy, nervous kid. To hear he is taking a leadership role and one commented he seemed very confident, was not the kid I have know for these past almost 15 years.
However the more I have thought about all this, there more it really isn't shocking. Travis has grown and matured A LOT in the past year. He isn't my little boy anymore, and he has become more confident and independent. He knows what he wants to do in his life and he is on the path to make sure he gets it. He is already thinking about college, and knows he most likely will be going to one far from home. This is something he is OK with and doesn't see any issue with it.
Travis has become his own person, with his own mind and thoughts, and I have learned to let him go and continue to grow and mature. He has strong opinions about many things and isn't afraid to voice them. I sometimes have to take a step back and wonder who is this and where did quiet, shy Travis go?
I am so proud of him, and proud of who he is becoming and I am excited to see where he goes. I think people who haven't been seen him or been around him in a while will be surprised as well.
Soon he will be driving, graduating and going off to college, and next thing I know he will be married with kids. I use to worry about my kids growing up and moving away, but I have to say the thought of Travis going off to college doesn't scare me anymore. I find I am so excited to see him go because he is so eager to learn and grow that I feel he is destine to do great things. I was told my someone when he as a baby that they had this feeling that Travis was special, and that he was meant to do great things and make a huge impact and difference in this world. I didn't think much of it, but I have to agree now. Something about him is different, he thinks a lot and challenges even the teachers to think hard and sometimes outside of the box.
Look Out World, Travis is coming and he has a plan and mission!!
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