Why I'm Going to Special Needs, Special Families TONIGHT!

Hello Friends:

As I was thinking about what to write, I decided to emphasize the importance of tonight's Special Needs, Special Families event for me. 

This picture is of my son, Emmanuel. He's 8 years old.  Since he's been in school, he has been in trouble.  He hasn't been getting into fights or swearing at people or stealing or anything like that.  He just seems to be extremely extraverted and can't help but to talk and make noise during class.  Since Kindergarten, he has been separated from the rest of his classmates because the teachers can't seem to manage his behavior.  And the truth of the matter is that Emmanuel can't seem to manage his behavior either.  Although Emmanuel has continually been a nuisance in class, he has always excelled academically.

About a year ago, I decided to get him tested for 'giftedness'.  I really wasn't sure what that was but soon realized that it's an IQ test.  Emmanuel did great on it!  He is what psychologists would call "profoundly gifted".  It's a blessing most days except for when he's being a smarty-pants.  There are definitely ups and downs of having a gifted child.  Too many to get into at this point.  The point is that once I realized he was gifted, I thought that if I put him in a gifted school, he would be challenged and the behavior issues would subside.  Well, I was wrong!

Emmanuel is now in a gifted school and the behavior problems are just as bad, if not worse, than they ever have been.  By the end of the year, the teacher didn't know what else to do and kicked him out of her class multiple times when he was simply out of control.  We had numerous meetings with his teacher, the principle, the assistant vice principle, and the school psychologist. Finally, by the end of the year, through assessments, he was diagnosed as ADHD.

As a parent, it is completely overwhelming to send your kid to school every day and just pray and hope and cross every finger that he has a good day.  You wait and hope every day that you're not going to get an email from the teacher or a call about his behavior.  And every day, when he comes home and says that he didn't have such a great day, as a parent you wonder what it is that you're doing wrong.  We are surrounded by loving family and of course, with good intentions, they start to tell you everything that you should or shouldn't be doing. 

When we add the gifted part to it, I become completely baffled.  How can someone so smart not be able to control himself or be so forgetful?  Is he doing this on purpose?  Does he need more attention? What else can I do?  Should I change his diet?  What sport should I sign him up for now? The questions that I ask myself on a daily basis reiterate my doubt on my parenting skills.

I know that some of you may be reading this and are dealing with something similar or perhaps your child has a physical, mental, or emotional special need.  I didn't think the event tonight would be for me but where I am today - mentally, emotionally, and spiritually - I am certain that I need tonight's event more than ever before.  I need to be encouraged.  I need to be surrounded with other parents who get it.  I need someone to pray for me.  I need to be connected.  And that is exactly what tonight's event is about.

Let's connect and love on another tonight. I'm looking forward to seeing you.

God bless!