Letting my girl go

It was Amy's second day at Morning Kindy today. Yesterday I stayed with her for the whole session because it was her first day. Our special education contact and Amy's new teachers aide were there so she had quite the support crew. But today I left her too it - went off to the gym and met up with a friend there for a sauna and a cup of tea.

It was raining today and there were forty kids inside all in very close proximity at Amy's Kindy so I couldn't help myself - I made a 10.15am call from the gym. I was assured that she was fine and was bonding well with her ESW (education support worker), aka as a teachers aide. I didn't think it was out of line me calling given all the scenarios over the last two years where things have gone so very pear-shaped when Amy has been amongst of groups of children. But after the phone-call I relaxed considerably and felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

The last four years have been so very intense as a Mum of a daughter with ASD. We have a respite carer and friends/neighbours we can leave Amy with for short bursts but it is typically for no more than two hours at a time - and typically just every now and then.

In the end at afternoon Kindy I was only leaving Amy for an hour and a half (out of a possible two hours) and that was just three times a week. So ten hours a week with a teachers aide - that is truly a miracle! However Amy won't be staying at Morning Kindy for the full twenty hours as three hours a session seems to be enough at this point for her. But still - fifteen hours a week (the first hour with the Kindy teachers and then the next two hours with her teachers aide) feels huge for us. I think it is going to be good for all of us to have a teachers aide on board.

It feels good to have reached this point with Amy. To have gone through all the heartache and frustration that we have over the last year in particular as we got her diagnosed and then brought her into mainstream education with the support of several specialists.

It has been worth it. Day two at Kindy and I can see Amy is out of her comfort zone yet she is gorwing. Little steps. She isn't going to the toilet at Kindy yet (though will sit on it) - a sign that she is pretty anxious. But today she made progress and sat down with some of the other children and ate some Morning tea.

I think she's doing well. She is absolutely exhausted though. Even I am finding Morning Kindy quite full-on with all those four year olds rocking around!