Best of luck in making such a difficult decision, Aims. I, too, have confidence that you and Joe will give Em the support she needs, whatever shape that takes.

Seska, that made me chuckle.

Cass, adding my gratitude that you're not on fire.

I love my therapist because he doesn't pat my head and tell me it'll all get better. He says things like, "You are hideously inept at getting yourself out of bad situations, so maybe try not getting into them, or at least set a time limit."

If she's held back this year, does that mean she has to stay in the less-structured setting?

Not all. I'm hoping to actually have her in the more structured classroom on Monday.

Or would she be able to move to the structured setting but still be back a grade level?

This. My first priority is getting her into a different setting. I'm not making any decision on retention until I see how she does in a traditional classroom. We've been talking to Em about stuff because she's savvy - she gets that things are afoot - and she said that she wishes she were in Kindergarten this year because it's "much more funner" than first grade. Which made me laugh because she spent a morning in Kindergarten last week and all they did was color and stamp. Of course she wants to be in Kindergarten!

she spent a morning in Kindergarten last week and all they did was color and stamp. Of course she wants to be in Kindergarten!

Heck, I kinda want to be in Kindergarten myself

ETA: I'm sorry--I don't have anything particularly constructive to add to the conversation. But it's great you're considering so many factors that may be affecting Em's work, instead of just shaking a finger and saying, "Do better, kid!"

smonster, I just want you to know that I created a new ringtone for you last night, so know that if you call I will be tickled with delight to hear "I'm not here for your entertainment, you don't want to mess with me tonight. Just and take a lesson, I was fine before you walked into my life", etc.

Not "tickled (by) Pink," Vortex?

smonster, I think you made the right call about B, regardless of how generally awesome he can be. He can't/won't give you what you want/need, and that's extremely significant. The setup is pretty much guaranteed to keep you dangling and hurting.

Aims- good luck with your decision making and plans. Sounds like there's a lot to consider, but I am glad that you have many Buffista perspectives in the mix as well!

Speaking of self-directed tasks and not being motivated... wow, I am really not up for doing anything today here at work.

smonster, I love your therapist too...except for the hideously bad thing. I've learned over the years that patting someone on the head pretty much just pounds them down, more securely in the spot where they stand. Not particularly useful for forward motion.

And hey, did you get an email in response to your last one to me? If not, I can resend.

I'm playing hooky, today. I do have a bit of an upset tummy, but I'm as much staying home in support of all the teachers and other folks taking time off today to protest our governor's budget repair bill.

I really love my city, the support everyone is showing for the state employees who are going to get screwed by that bill is little short of phenomenol. There have been protest marches every day this week up to the capitol from campus. 700 students from my old high school marched up to the capitol yesterday (1/4 of the student body), another local high school is doing the same thing today. My high school is closed today because all the teachers called in sick. So, even though my tummy bug is minor, I decidedd to call in sick, too. I just...need to be near restroom facilities at any given moment. ::insert wry grin here::

Dear mother, please stop talking about how you are doing "everything" by yourself, as if that's some miracle or someone should be doing it for you. If you want to renovate your house, you can't expect someone to do it for you.

patting someone on the head pretty much just pounds them down, more securely in the spot where they stand.

A big "aha" moment with my therapist was talking about my lack of self esteem. I said "My parents were very supportive. My mom tells me I'm perfect all the time." She said "Are you perfect?" "No." "So, you know that's not true. No reason to listen to something which is not true. How is that helpful to your understanding of yourself as you actually are?" DINGDINGDING