Time for a Change

Dax has had a tough year of 5th grade at Hancock. He is an excellent student, and usually likes school but this was the first year that often he told me he didn't want to go to school, and he even faked being sick often just so he could get out of it. There were multiple reasons, but the main ones were that school was boring, and kids were picking on him. 

 I am often asked why he wasn't in the CATS (gifted) program. The reason is that he didn't qualify after taking the test, I also didn't really see a need for it since they put him in the advanced reading and math class anyway. About a year ago a friend asked me about that and told me I should probably have him re-tested and reconsider. She said the kids in that program are all kind of quirky and they fit in better amongst themselves than the other kids. I knew the purpose of the program was to give them a little more of a challenge but taking the kids out of the mainstream class and only putting them with other gifted in one class didn't make sense to me. I didn't really like the idea either, I felt like they should be with the other kids, not being excluded from their own group. Now I get it. Dax does not fit in with the other kids in his class right now. I have worried about him socially for the past few years, and sending him to middle school in a year was beyond scary for me. I realized I worried more about him, my honor roll student, than my student who actually struggles a little in school.

 I had asked Dax throughout the school year if he wanted to switch schools when he would have a bad day, and he always said no. I finally realized that he DOES need to switch schools and I needed to explain to him why he would be happier at a different school. I think he had had enough and he immediately liked the idea. I talked to his teachers about this and they confirmed exactly what we thought. All his teachers said they enjoy Dax and think he is witty and funny, but the other kids just don't get him. We checked out two middle schools starting with 6th grade ( so he doesn't have to switch again in a year) with accelerated programs, and one that specifically focused on Science, his strength and favorite subject. We toured them, met the principals, and took placement tests. He did extremely well on the placement tests. The test is designed for incoming 7th graders, they don't have a specific test for 6th graders yet, so they give them the same tests. Seventh graders need to get at least 70% to qualify and 6th graders need to get at least 50%. Dax got a 96% in reading and 64% in Math. The principal also monitored the test and said Dax did a great job. He could tell he was focused, and diligent throughout the entire test. The principal said he would do well in his program. 

 We are so proud of him. (This is the test he took the day he had his "heart attack" apparently it didn't phase him much). Based on location, atmosphere, size, etc etc. Dax(with the help of his parents) has chosen Chandler Traditional Jr. High for 6th-8th grade. I had been dreading the next 5 years for Dax, but now I am especially excited and hopeful about his future. Dax is really looking forward to his new school. Wearing uniforms and all.

Oops

This was kind of a funny week. We started out with Curtis giving the boys haircuts, luckily we volunteered Trey to go first. Curtis gets halfway through the haircut and the clippers broke, cutting the hair super duper short (scalped). We had no choice but to even it out. Trey looks a little bald for now, but glad it happened to him rather than the older boys who would actually care. 

 Later that night we were getting ready to watch our usual lineup of Reality Trash TV (Celebrity Apprentice, and The Real Housewives of Orange County). Curtis was flipping channels when we saw that there was going to be a news conference with the President. I thought it was kind of odd on a Sunday night, even though Obama does love his press conferences, this seemed unusual. Then Geraldo says there is some news about Osama Bin Ladin being dead. WHAT? Geraldo went crazy you would have thought it was the best day of his life, he was so excited, he said he didn't care how he died whether he fell into a hole, or died of his kidney problems, he was so happy he was dead. The rest of the night was so exciting watching the news and the celebrations outside of the White House and Time Square. Finding out that our US Military took him out. WAHOO!! I think this was something that many people thought would never happen especially since President Bush left office. I felt like the dark cloud that had been over our country for the last decade was moving aside to let a little sunshine peak through. More comments about this historical event to come.

 Last week Dax went on a field trip to the Halle Heart Children's Museum. Dax had a great time and learned all about the heart, being healthy, etc. He came home with a recipe book (healthy heart meals) and we made Chicken soup and pizza fruit cookies for dinner that night. On Thursday Dax was only in school for about three hours in the middle of the day because he had some appointments he needed to go to. (Another story I'll get into later). I was supposed to sign him out at 1:30 for his second appointment. At 1:00 I get a call from the school nurse. It seems that I get a call from her about once a month for one reason or another. This time she had Dax in her office, he was complaining of chest pains. He explained to the nurse that he went to the Halle Heart Museum last week and learned the symptoms of a heart attack and they told them that when these symptoms happen to call 911 immediately. I don't know what he said to his teacher, but she let him go to the nurse because he felt these chest pains and he "didn't think this should be taken lightly, and it is always better to be safe than sorry" I was laughing out loud as the nurse was telling me this, and I think she was trying to keep a straight face since Dax was standing there as she was calling me. She was a substitute nurse that day and I don't think she knew what to think. I have never heard of a healthy active 10-year-old having a heart attack, but "it is better to be safe than sorry" I told her I had to sign Dax out in 30 minutes anyway so I would just come to pick him up early. When I showed up at the school to sign him out the lady at the desk said "oh because he's sick, he's been in the nurse's office" yes- that was exactly why(whatever, he was getting signed out anyway) When Dax walked up he was his usual chipper self looking 100% healthy, no chest compressions, defibrillators, or oxygen masks necessary. I asked him if he felt up to go take his test, and he said he was fine, "just that during math he felt a little pressure in his heart, and didn't think it should be taken lightly." Curtis told him he had medical student syndrome. Someone that thinks they have every disease they study. 

 Friday Afternoon, Curtis took Dax and Derek on the Father and Sons outing to Bartlett lake. They had a great overnight (just enough) campout. We finished off today with Mother's Day. The kids were very good to me. Then Curtis had to take off to San Diego for a few days.