Today's the day

True definition of Rockstar. 

Years of speech,traveling and assessments have all brought us to this day. With a happy heart today is Brinley's last day at the Deaf and Hard of Hearing preschool. 

When we made the move to Socal last summer she was attending 5 days a week. She made quick progress. Before we knew it she dropped to 3 days a week at DHH. We enrolled her in our local CDC Full-Time Preschool the other 2 days. It's always been extremely important to us that Brinley gets her role modeling from "like hearing peers." Putting her in this environment was scary at first not knowing how she was going to juggle going to two different schools who had two very different set of rules. 

She flourished.And adjusted.And was happy. 

At the start of the new 2013 school year went switched it up again, 2 days at DHH and 3 days in mainstreamed preschool. 

She flourished.And adjusted.And was happy. 

As parents we struggled with moving her from the DHH program, after all she's deaf. Her friends there either have cochlear implants or hearing aids so Brinley wouldn't be so different. It's safe. She felt safe.Or was it we felt safe as parents knowing she wouldn't be so different? 

My last visit to her DHH class left me with questions. Brinley had taken on a motherly role to the other children. Her language had surpassed her other classmates so she evolved into a helper for the smaller children. The classmates were using Brinley as a role model. Brinley WAS and IS different, even at DHH. What was a good fit a year ago isn't necessarily a good fit now. 

Last report card from Brin's mainstreamed class 

Brinley exceeded expectations in key areas:

Relationships with peers and adults

Seeing diversity in herself and others

Empathy 

Problem Solving

Social Development

Fine Motor Skills

Writing 

Spelling

Speech:

Above Satisfactory

Brinley is flourishing.And adjusting.And is happy. 

                                              

 This morning we walked to the bus stop for the last time.

 We live in a great new city 

with a school district that has far surpassed all our expectations

Her future looks bright!