Meeting of the Minds

It's that time of year again.  Time for parent/teacher conferences.  Usually I'm pretty stoked about these conferences.  Sure, they are kind of a nightmare to schedule and attend.  But I really enjoy having someone else tell me how wonderful my children are.  Especially if that someone is someone who spends, let's say, six to seven hours a day, five days a week with my child.

I have really zero concerns about Alex's academic and behavioral performance.  He has all A's and high marks for behavior.  He is very conscientious and helpful and really a joy to have around.  Especially if his sisters aren't there tormenting him.

Eva is a sweet, gentle little girl.  Academically she is right on track.  She's a great friend and always sees the best in everyone.  Her teacher expressed a slight concern on her report card regarding her speech.  And although she is only five, I, too, have difficulties understanding what she is saying sometimes.   However, it doesn't seem to be a true speech issue as much as a confidence in what she is saying and speaking loud and clear.  I'm curious to find out how her teacher sees it.

Grace, on the other hand, is the one that has me sweating bullets.  By the grace of God, she pulled off silver honors.  I still don't know how she did it.  In each class she has had numerous missing assignments.  Most of these "missing" assignments are ones that I know she did because I either a). helped her with it b). checked it when she finished or c). talked to her about the assignment.  I do not understand how she can complete her work and then not turn it in.  I do not know how she can lose it between the car and the school building.  I do not understand why no matter what we do to try to help her organize, she continuously has this same problem.

She has low marks in classroom behavior and after being asked to leave a class this year because she couldn't pull herself together to do what the teacher repeatedly asked of her, I'm not looking so forward to these conferences.

But, I must meet with each of her teachers.  All five of them. 

Last week, Grace broke down in tears.  She was telling me how difficult it is for her to focus at school, at home and on the volleyball court.  She often finds herself zoning out.  She thinks she is listening only to find out that she's three pages behind everyone else.  She is struggling to learn new material, especially in math.  She complains of being bored but can't complete the lessons because she hasn't paid enough attention to learn the material.

I've seen it at home, too.  She is easily distracted.  She will start the dishes and then walk out of the kitchen with the cabinet doors and dishwasher open and dirty dishes all over the place.  It takes more than one reminder for her to complete even this simple task.

On the volleyball court, she seems pretty in tuned....most of the time.  Yet, if it's a slow game, she'll mess up her serves.  Or oftentimes just be staring off into space.

There are times when I am talking directly to her and a blank look comes across her face.  Moments later, she'll snap back and be like, "or were you talking to me?"

This isn't anything new, per se.

For as long as I can remember, this is just Grace.

But, now, it is affecting her ability to learn.  It's affecting her socially, academically and athletically. 

After much research, I called her pediatrician and picked up an evaluation package. 

So, today, I have to talk to each of her teachers.  I have to talk to them about how there might be something wrong with my child.  Some type of learning disability.  Some type of attention deficit.  Something.

And I'm not excited about it. 

I'm nervous and scared. 

I just want the best for my child.