Thank you for the informational reply, Consider the Lillies!
My son has always been one of those types of kids who is overstimulated easily, sensitive and anxious. When he started school the teachers couldn't see the real little guy that I saw at home everyday. They never believed me about his abilities and just saw the anxious little boy who cried and didn't show what he knew. My hubby and I ended up pulling him out of that school. We agreed that I would home educate him. Life seemed to be going pretty well for our family for a year while home educating.
Then, all hell broke loose. My now ex husband went into a major manic episode (or several) and did some of the cruelest and oddest things. As far as I know he has never physically or sexually harmed the children. With hubby's verbal and emotional abuse we were all harmed though. I was trying to juggle home educating our son, taking our daughter to and from her public school, doing home and life errands and dealing with a manic spouse. He was out having at least one affair and spending money all over the place and I didn't know until I saw the bills come in. He also was out and about at odd hours during the night. I sought out therapy because I was not feeling myself and didn't know how to deal with this crisis. Hubby and I tried marriage counseling, but he just lied and did his own thing anyway. A week later hubby lost his job and I had to quickly find one. I found a part time job (after being out of the job market for over 9 years). Fast forward a few months and I had to put our son into the same public school where our daughter attended. Spouse and I were in divorce court a few times too. Fast forward a few more months and the kids and I moved in with my parents. Ex has the kids every other week for 3 1/2 days. I have the kids with me and my parents the rest of the time. We've had this schedule for just over a year now.
Our children and especially our son has had to deal with a daddy being manic and acting abusive, the break up of our family, going from home education to public school, moving and now dealing with his dad's new fiance and her 4 children and that extended family. Our son hasn't been doing well in school. The school asked to test his IQ and for LD's. They did that (mainly IQ) while our son was on medication for a physical illness and while he is still trying to process all of his other life stuff. The IQ scores were SO low that I just can't believe this is even possible (borderline intelligence-between 69 and 79). I mean, this is a kid who knew his letters and numbers and was starting to read before kindergarten. He could count way past 100 before kindergarten. In his kindergarten class they were working on counting to 30 the first few months. The boy also taught himself how to tell time on an analog clock before they even got to that unit in kindergarten. When he was 7 he auditioned for a college production of a musical, where he practiced and performed for a show (danced, sang and memorized lines and stage directions)!
Anyway, the school said they didn't find any specific learning disabilities as defined by federal and state guidelines, so the only thing they can do, so they don't have to retain him in the same grade is to go the 504 route.
I guess that's what we have to do to help him.
My son just started therapy too. I'm not sure if I'm too thrilled with his therapist at the moment. I need to have a conversation with her. She hasn't heard my story. I believe she has only talked to my son's teacher and my ex husband.
Oh ya...now my ex husband is taking me back to court because he says I'm physically or emotionally harming the kids by having them live with my parents (both licensed teachers) and not living with him half of the time. Ex also wants to get out of having to pay the current child support amount.
Ex continually harasses me by phone and e-mail and that tends to raise my anxiety level, which isn't good for me nor my kids.
ok....I'm venting....I better stop now and get to bed....
thank you for reading!