The Angels on their First Day of School!

Besides Brody's 6 month jaunt to a Pre-K program at a private school, none of my children have ever been to school.  (Okay, Brody and Haze did go to preschool, but I am talking REAL school).   So this day was HUGE!

Before Brain Balance my husband and I literally wondered if the boys would EVER be able to go to school.  As you have read before, it is not because of a lack of intelligence :)   They are both very smart and even above average in a lot of academic areas.  Where they have fallen short are the areas of focus, attention, hyperactivity, distractiblity, impulsivity, as well as multiple sensory and processing problems.  **Otherwise known as a right hemispheric delay** 

After only ONE session at Brain Balance, we knew Brody was ready to go to school.  He still has a few things that we will be addressing in an additional session once our center opens.  However, he is SO DRASTICALLY FAR from where he was only a few short months ago.  His teacher says he will do great!  However, after he went to meet her she told me what he said and it gave me quite a laugh.  She showed him around the room and at one point showed him some crossword puzzles (which we have eliminated due to their strengthening of the left hemisphere...).  He promptly said "I can't do crossword puzzles - they are bad for my brain".  :)  He has also been known to tell other friends that the pretzels they are eating will hurt their brain, etc.  He is quite funny.  Needless to say, we have had many conversations about how each family is different.  I also ensured him that his wonderful Montessori school was doing enough things for his right brain that it would balance out a crossword puzzle here and there :) 

Brody absolutely LOVES school and said he is having so much fun.  I know he loves the social aspect for sure.  I also know he is so much more confident now because he is not worried that he won't do well, that he will get into trouble, etc.

Three fingers for 3rd grade :) 

Wyatt - darling, darling Wyatt.  You are so much fun and so much work at the same time! The first day of school Wyatt did amazingly well.  His aide has been taking very good care of him and making sure he does what he needs to do. 

Today when I went to get him from his room (at 5:30 am!) He jumped right out of bed and I asked him if he wanted to go to school and he smiled and said "school!"  He LOVES it there which is awesome.  After 3 years of being one-on-one in his room for ABA therapy, he is loving being around other kids, being out of the house and in a different learning environment. 

However, today was not as good as the first day.  For some reason he got off on the wrong foot at school and it seemed to stay that way.  He was more loud and disruptive and had to be taken out a few times.  

All children take awhile to adjust to going to school so I know that means the process is even longer for Wyatt.  It is only day 2 so I am not going to worry!  However, a few months ago I would not have even considered putting him in any type of school program.  Since Brain Balance, he follows directions so much better, he is more calm and more focused, he is more mature, etc. 

Prayers will be said tonight to help us have a better day tomorrow. 

So happy and excited to go to school. 

And then there is little Hazel...  She loves school as well.  She behaves very well and does exactly what her teacher asks her to do.  I will have to get some lessons from the teacher...  She seems to do great all day, but as soon as I pick her up she starts the whining.  She is SO exhausted and hungry.  Yesterday she fell asleep in the car on the way home and today she just cried and whined for what seemed like an hour...  We will have to make sure she gets enough rest so she is not so tired and also bring food to give her for after school! 

I am very happy that she is starting off her school career in a Montessori school.  I love their methods and know she will do very well there. 

 Some random shots of them together!

Brothers!

All three in the same photo??!!

Hazel is not in 4th grade folks - she is holding up 4 fingers for how old she is.  Brody was a little confused as to why Hazel was saying that she was older than him.. :)

I am so grateful and amazed that our boys are able attend school.  Brody LOVED his teacher Mrs. Tony (as did we!) and said he wanted her to teach him forever and he never wanted to go to school.   I was shocked that in such a short period his feelings totally changed and now he is so excited to go to school. 

Although Wyatt still has a long way to go, he is continually improving and is more connected to the people and the world around him.  I am excited to see how he excels in this new environment.

Thank you Brain Balance for allowing these sweet, smart boys to experience what it is like to go to school.  It may seem small to some, but it is not small to us. 

Goodnight!