WHAT!!!!

I went to a meeting this morning with T&B's teachers and the ESL district leader. I was hoping to get some answers on whether or not we should push on or retain, particularly Blessing in her current grade.

To my continued frustration, B's teacher feels like it is too difficult to test B, because once she hits a topic or subject that she doesn't know or understand, she shuts down. Okay, so, I ask the teacher to use her powers of observation and tell me if she thinks that B is even close to being at the academic level she should be at for the end of second grade.

The disturbing answer: Out of 30 kids in her class, she thinks maybe 6 of the children are at the end of second grade academically.

WHAT!?? Is this as disturbing to anyone else as it is to me???

Frustrated!

I am at a loss.
I am running into dead ends as far as answers go.
The public school is not meeting Blessing's needs. This is evident by her consistent behavior issues in school. She had one good week and I though that maybe she had overcome a barrier. However, last week she had "strikes" from her teacher 4 out of the five days and this week she started Monday with three strikes and has gotten one everyday since, except for today.

It is normal for ESL students to have some acting out difficulties because they are in a situation where they are not understanding for 6 hours. That is why they have ESL programs. Her school does not have an ESL program in place.

So, I have been trying to coordinate a home school situation, but am not getting a lot of cooperation at the district or on a private level. I keep running into educators that tell me, "we cannot retain her because of language."

So, now I have demanded testing, which frankly should have been done months ago! She is not just having language difficulties. She does not understand the subject matter. She is not on grade level with her skills, and frankly she is socially quite behind as well.

The teacher argues that she is tall and it would be awkward. What?!? We are so concerned with "no child left behind" that height is a determining factor in selecting an appropriate grade???

So, I suggested to Blessing that she might have a better time if I schooled her at home, but she says she would miss her friends. Argh!

I guess I have not found the right solution. My biggest prayer is that a spot will open in the charter school that will allow her to be social with children her own age and do academics on the appropriate levels for her skills. Their ESL program is also in place and functioning.

Easter

So, this is T&B's first Easter in the states. They had dyed eggs once before, when an adoptive parent had gone in at Easter time. The idea of decorating with glitter and wax was new, as were the plastic eggs filled with candy and small toys. We don't do the Easter Bunny. We never have. I think that dude in the suit in the mall is pretty much terrifying and I don't like the focus being taken away from Christ.

Me and Miss B

I am usually not in pictures. I am a behind the camera gal. However, every time the camera is out, Blessing wants a picture with me. My husband doesn't do this, nor any of my other kids. So, here we are at my mom's doing Easter eggs: my pretty brown girl and her frazzled looking mom. I guess she thinks I look pretty good :)

A Precious Conversation

I have had much more opportunity to talk to Theo and Blessing, than anyone else in the family. These conversations have been very special to me. The subject matter has run the gamut from Michael Jackson and movies to their difficulties in Liberia and their spiritual questions and beliefs.

It has helped us to bond and I am so thankful that they are open with me. This past Monday there was yet another precious conversation, but this time Theo was talking with Kyle and Zach. The topics were faith, scriptures, prophets, and the Savior, but this time I was just a listener as Kyle enjoyed that experience with his two oldest boys.

The conversation was so enthusiastic and open and very lovely to hear. I hope they all enjoyed it as much as I did. The Spirit was definitely in attendance and I am so thankful for that experience for them.

I dreamed of this picture and snakes in a restaurant

So, four years ago, when we decided that we were adopting in Africa, I saw this picture in my head one day at a restaurant with my family. I looked across the table at my two boys, Zach and Ben and saw the deep brown face of my someday son in between them. The other night, we took the kids out to eat at the Mayan restaurant and I snapped this picture. Good looking boys.

On a funny, making the transition to America note: the restaurant is a very Disneyesque type of place. Going in is like entering a rainforest with all the animal noises, a waterfall spilling down a huge rock face and big trees with fabulous tree house type landings at different levels. There are fire dancers and cliff divers and thunder and lightening simulations.

Theo and Blessing were amazed at it all. Sometimes it is a little hard for them to distinguish between fantasy and reality. During one of the shows, Theo leaned over to me and whispered, "Mom, do they clean this place out every night, of the snakes?"

A Friend of Her Own!

Theo has had no problem making friends, but my bubbly girl has had a harder time. Perhaps it is because she is a bit loud and quite unsophisticated compared to the second grade social set.

I was so sad the other day when I took her to her dance class and she was excited when we ran into a girl from school. Blessing waved, called to the girl with great enthusiasm, and ran up and gave the girl a hug. It hurt my heart to see the little girl squirm and roll her eyes.

Enter J, our neighbor who is also a classmate, who is also in her activity days group. She doesn't seem to mind Blessing's loud and happy ways! It makes me happy that Blessing has a friend

These Two

There have been a lot of problems between these two good looking guys. They have butted heads more times than I can count. However, these are also two of the kids whose relationship is coalescing.

They hang out together. They both like sports, the outdoors, and going and doing. I think one of the reasons this brotherhood is finally working is that Ben so badly want to be a big kid and to be included in big kid things. He perceives Theo as a road to the big stuff.

Theo is used to being the big man at the orphanage and is used to playing with younger children. He says that he wants to play with kids his own age, but when I talk to him about his school/friends life, I can tell that he is often confused by their behavior and choices. The truth is that in many ways, Theo is on Ben's emotional level in many ways.

So, they are both meeting each others needs in some ways. Squabbles will of course continue, but I do have hope for this relationship!