'OM' My, It’s IEP Season by Lori Miller Fox

If life’s a journey, then the school years are the longest collection of toll roads. And as our day to ante up gets closer, I decided to take a calmer, gentler, more centered approach toward our child’s IEP and use meditation techniques and a zen state of mind to help get through it harmoniously. Here are just a few of my affirmations.

I will live in the moment, starting tomorrow.

I will do a better job of giving up my need for perfection.

I will look at my experiences with the school district as an opportunity for growth -- the kind of growth that needs to be removed.

I will no longer throw judgment at school people -- or raw eggs or rotten tomatoes, or large heavy objects.

I will give up my disagreements with the school to a higher power -- my special education attorney

I will not look to the school to heal my child, I will just look to them to stop harming him.

Every time I am angry with the school, I will breathe, and breathe, and keep breathing until I hyperventilate and pass out.

I will ask the Universe for guidance for my child, because heaven knows, the school guidance counselor has nothing to offer.

I will accept the things I can not change, and change the teachers I can.

When I become enraged, I will sit quietly and repeat my mantra “due process, due process, due process...”

I will accept my challenges in life as a gift from the Universe, that I would gladly regift to my child’s IEP team at Christmas.

I will graciously accept my child’s school district as karmic payback from something terrible I must have done in a past life.

I will look to Mother Nature for peace and understanding of the school district, although being a mother herself, she would probably side with me.

I will listen to the school’s position with love in my heart, grace in my soul, and a special education attorney at my side.

I will proudly acknowledge that my child is the real teacher in this world, and that the school staff who do not recognize this, are the failing students.

Comments

[Liz]

Always keep Hanlon's Razor in mind:

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

I also linked to this post here:

http://schwablearning.org/message_boards/view_messages.asp?thread=20671

[Sandy Alperstein]

Thanks, Lori, as always! Your humor is always right on!

[Amanda]

Lori, I'll have to try your techniques. Thanks for the laugh!

[Kathryn]

Great post Lori. I especially liked the last two. Hang in there!

[Sherry Hollis]

I will look to Mother Nature for peace and understanding of the school district, although being a mother herself, she would probably side with me.

PRICELESS !!