My foray into the school fortress, and the winners of the Lularoe giveaway!

I unexpectedly had some time during the day after Evie's doctor appointment last week, and decided to just bite the bullet and register her in the public school system for preschool (I know! I'm not ready yet either).

I had no idea.  I had no idea the level of bureaucracy involved for preschool.   Just to get in the building was a challenge.  I had to walk all the way around to find the ONE set of doors I could enter (totally smart to keep our children safe), and then buzz the doorbell to be let in by the security guard.

Then I had to wait for the administrators to finish chatting with each other before I could go in the office for registration.  Then the lady asked me if I had the birth certificate, utility bills, immunizations, physical, and license.  I proudly and confidently said yes.  Then she asked me if I had filled out the registration packet, and I felt deflated.  She handed me a 15 page packet and told me to tell her when she was ready.  I stood there and filled out the packet, frantically searching my phone for phone numbers and other info.  I stated that Evie's only language was English, remembering how my little brother had to take the TOEFL because my mom wrote on the form that his first language was Mandarin.  I had to write on a blank piece of paper that I was officially requesting a special education evaluation for Evie.  The lady informed me that I would have to contact the evaluation office.  I smiled in victory, saying that our service coordinator in Early Intervention had already sent everything over.  She looked surprised that I had dodged an extra step in her bureaucratic game, and acknowledged a point for me with a look of surprise.  I finally finished the paperwork, and the lady buzzed around, doing her thing, and then I was sent to the school nurse to show her the immunizations and copy of the physical (thank you, Boston Childrens for having everything available to print on the portal!).

Walking through the high school to the school nurse's office felt surreal.  This 70's-ish building felt like something off a movie set.  I got lost, asked someone for directions, found my way across a skybridge, and then found the nurse's office.  The nurse reviewed the papers, and informed me that I was missing the results of a lead test and a TB risk assessment test.  I was given a business card with a fax number on it, and sent on my way.

I almost just went out the closest exit door.  But then I realized that maybe this would trigger some kind of alarm.  God forbid that I caused any trouble even before my child had entered the school system.

This probably seems like nothing to the veteran moms who have done this for their kids.  But for a first-timer, it is the first step of a big adventure into the unknown.  I am signing Evie up for a huge milestone full of unknowns.  Will she walk by December?  Will she need the nurse to give her milk through her feeding tube?  Will she have friends?  And then there's the question of whether she will get the support she needs--occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language therapy, andvision (mobility) assistance, while being able to be included with her peers.  It's a huge undertaking to get a child into school!  I am thankful for the many parents who have gone before us, especially in the special ed arena, so that I can learn from their experiences.

In the meantime, I am just going to enjoy Evie before she becomes a little schoolgirl!  My baby is growing up!

And now, to announce the winners of the Lularoe giveaway!
Grand Prize: Kim W.
2nd Prize: Kristy L.
3rd Prize: Diana L.
I will e-mail you with more details about how to get your prizes!  A huge thank you to Lularoe DressWell GiveWell for her generosity!