Goals

Today we had Breanna's transitional "meeting" for preschool. There was certainly a full crowd there, all for MY daughter. 3 case managers, 2 OT, 2 DT, a speech therapist, and physical therapist. Next year she will go to preschool 3 days a week for 3 hours, and have 5 hours of therapy on top of that. It was amazing to see in the meeting the professionals almost "taking over." "There is a human inside there after all that dissecting you do to her," I wish I could say. I think that is my main role in all of this, to bring back the "personal" side of things. I always wonder if I'm doing the best by Breanna, should I ask for "more"? Should I try to put her in a "regular" preschool. Am I taking the easy way out? Am I setting her up for a lifetime of being separated from other kids her age?
My goals for Breanna are so much more than learning to talk. I know things come in baby steps, but honestly and realistically she is not going to be a brain surgeon. I just want her to have friends, and to be able to live on her own and be happy. I know I can never do enough for her, there will always be that one more therapy appointment or activity that I just won't be able to take her to b/c I have two other kids. Honestly, just taking care of Breanna's needs and coordinating everything is a full time job, never mind my other kids, house, husband or job. I can't even fathom how hard things will be once she gets to public school and is just that much further behind her peers. But baby steps, right?
"I know that for a child with Down syndrome, she is doing very well already. But like all moms, I want even more. I want every bit of life I can grab for her. I want to take every second of learning time and make it count. I want to give her every chance to have the life I have always dreamed for her." (DS blogger) To the moon......