Underwhelmed

That's how I feel. Bored. Lots to do, but nothing I want to do. Gal who was gonna do my hair canceled. Nothing more dissappointing than thinking you're gonna get your hair done and then it doesn't happen. Well, there are things, but it's right up there on the list. Sigh.

Crock O' Joy

Some sweet soul anonymously gave me a gift card to Wal-mart this past Christmas. Whoever you are, thank you! I have been taking my time, thinking about just what I wanted to get with this free money that was just for little ol' me. Then, my crockpot broke. I thought nothing of it. I was sure I barely ever used it. Boy was I wrong! I use that thing all the time! And it was driving me crazy not having one! So I ordered one from Wal-mart.com and it got here today. Who knew a plug in casserole dish could bring so much joy? I also purchased a waffle maker (I've never owned one) and it is on it's way. I am sooooo excited! Thank you to my secret santa. I wish I could repay you but first you'll have to tell me who you are. The comment portion of this blog would be a good place to do that;)

Phase 1: Coach Hall on the phone

Well. I have good friends. With really good advice. Thanks for all of it. It really helped me so much. I would recommend all of you to be counselors of some sort but your skills are being put to much better use as mothers.
So Coach Hall and I had a good talk on the phone. With thoughts of friends cheering me on in the background I was assertive and able, but mostly, after much prayer, the Lord helped me to be kind. I was able to get my point across without being on the offensive which is hard for me to do when I am emotionally close to the situation. Because I was able to be un-offensive, he was able to be non-defensive and this allowed us to work together and be on the same page. We both decided Harris was miserable in P.E. and that this isn't okay. So he offered to send Harris to Art or Music in lieu of P.E. until I decide what I want to do next. This will at least give Harris a break from crying and having anxiety about this and then we can come up with the right solution. I would opt for adaptive P.E, designed for kids with limitations and implemented by a special ed. coach, but it is held during his math time not during P.E. time, and I'm not down with him getting pulled from much needed class for yet one more thing...especially something non-essential like P.E. So we will see. Thanks again, for all the EXCELLENT feedback.

Help Wanted

I am having a dilemma. Harris seems to have a lot of anxiety...no surprise. He is, after all, my child. But a great amount of this anxiety seems to be centered around P.E. His Coach is an uptight disciplinarian who loves to hear himself yell and while he never singles Harris out, Harris still gets yelled at on a group scale every Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Add to this the fact that his physical limitations are becoming more and more apparent the older he and his classmates get. For example, most first graders can't hula hoop so he didn't stick out like a sore thumb. But in second grade, most of the kids are able to do this and a whole lot of others things (jump roping to name another) that he cannot. I think this adds to his stress levels about P.E.
Now, we all had some yacko for a gym teacher with coach shorts pulled up so high we wondered if that couldn't be contributing to his foul mood (mine was a certain Mr. McNabb who I lovingly nicknamed Mr McNadds as an adult.) And I want Harris to learn to adapt and do all that he is able, even when it is hard and causes him to stretch a little...or a lot. But this is becoming an ordeal if you will. He cries about it no less than four times a day EVERYDAY! He loses sleep and has asked for two blessings. I already had the school nurse who is a good friend of mine and Harris' self-appointed voice up at the school go talk to Coach Hall for me. Coach Hall says that Harris seems fine in P.E. and someone must be putting ideas in his head. Yeah, he really said that! So now I'm trying to decide what to do next.

I thought I'd poll the network of incredible friends who I rub elbows with in blog land. Do you think I should:

1) Go have a talk with Coach Hall myself.

2) Request he opt out of P.E. all together. He could attend Art and Music which he loves in its place. And besides, he gets exercise via his bike and weekly aquatic therapy.

3) Request he be a special helper in P.E. who can count off jumping jacks and time things rather than have to struggle to keep up with the physical stuff.

4) Leave it alone..this too shall pass.