Je refuse - The Data

Today is the last day of school for B and C. It's a wrap on 3rd and K.

Before I describe this morning, here's this year's data.

Attendance

September: 15/17 (two sick days)

October: 16/19, (three sick days)

November: 16/17 (double ear infection)

December: 15/16 (several tough episodes)

January: 17/17 (lice)

February: 10/14 (ear infection, school vacation)

March: 20/22 (sick)

April: 13/15 (strep throat)

May: 16/22 (strep again)

June: 12/12

This was the first year since the pandemic that the kids were fully unmasked, and strep went through the district at an alarming rate. C had it three times this past year, plus two or three ear infections.

Elevated emotions and tough behaviors (hitting, biting, eloping, school delay due to refusal) September: none

October: none

November: 3x (probably linked to double ear infection)

December: 6x (probably linked to holiday and more illness)

January: 2x

February: 2x (probably ear infection)

March: 1x

April: 1x

May: 1x

June: 1x (probably linked to 90+ degree heat during all-day field trip)

Extra-curricular Participation

Rec Soccer

Mini wrestling camp

T-Ball

Therapies

Equine: 1x week

OT: 1x week

Social

Weekly and monthly birthday parties and playdates

Academics

Learned to read

Learned to write

Zooming along in math

Family Trips

Portland and Philadelphia

I think that's pretty frickin' amazing. C will be seven years old in a few weeks and one year pacifier free. He showers on his own, I can cut his finger nails, he got a haircut. Huge sensory wins.

So, this morning. There was some resistance, but we made it out the door in relatively good spirits. C zoomed past the market on his scooter. He turned to look down the alley for cars at one point, and - whoosh! Flew threw the air and took a digger. He was hysterical. He scraped his knee and arm but was otherwise physically fine. B ended up biking the remaining couple of minutes to school on her own. I cajoled, carried, encouraged, and distracted C the last quarter mile. I felt like I was a Mt. Everest guide, bringing my client up the final ascent to fulfill his lifelong goal, or the friend hobbling alongside the marathoner as they barely make it across the finish line.

I'm not a religious person, but I swear the universe was looking out for us. As we passed the library and commenced the final stretch (C walking on his own!!!), a teacher came down the sidewalk. She was searching for Layla, the giant golden retriever who greets the children every morning outside the elderly living facility. Sometimes Layla goes off in search of groundhogs or squirrels, and when she does the morning school crowd bands together to bring her home. Well, animals transport C emotionally, and Layla's escapade proved to be the distraction we needed. He joined the music teacher in the search, his scrapes temporarily forgotten as he put on his hero's cape. Layla was, of course, located, C was celebrated in his helper role, and I made a hasty exit. Cue Bill Conti's Gonna Fly Now from Rocky. Fuck yes. We made it to the last day of school.