Senior Year.

Senior year has started for Phoebe.  She has her amazing team, and she will continue to follow the same schedule she has for the last 2 years.  Senior.  For most, that has a special sound to it.  It means, the last of everything high school.  For some, it means college applications and visits. It means maturity, growing-up, and moving on to new and better things. It means graduation.  For Phoebe, some of this is true, however most is not.  We did not do any college visits. There will be no diploma for her.  She will receive a certificate of completion.  This is how it works for kids in this particular special program.  Phoebe will move on to a post-secondary school starting next year.  It will help continue to teach her life skills.  School has always been more of a social thing for Phoebe, so giving her less academics will come as a nice change.   Change, however is always a huge struggle for her.  She will be sad to leave what has become normal.  She will cry, melt-down, and make us pay for this at home.  We, as a family, know this.  We know her. We are just really happy that she has made it through, because I can't say it has been easy.

My amazing niece made Homecoming Court for her high school this year.  She and Phoebe are in the same grade, and have grown up together.  When we discussed Homecoming for Riley at home, Phoebe nodded and left the room.  Later, she came to me and said, "Mom, what does someone DO on Homecoming Court? How do you get ON it?"  I tried to explain that it's a group of people who have shown excellence in school, and represent great things in young people.  It's a vote among the students to get on it.  She said, "Then I should be on Homecoming Court."  I laughed.  (In a good way)  She has accomplished so much since her first 20 page report from William Beaumont Hospital, stating she had various speech issues, ADHD, etc.  She was in special pre-schools, speech therapy, OT, PT and social skills groups.  She took special classes, and did work at home.  She (WE) made it through puberty (sort-of), and finally found a program that fit.  Just in time.  For her, this has made her someone who has accomplished huge things.  HUGE.  While it's not exactly Homecoming Court things...it certainly is something to be proud of.  We sure are.  And based on the conversation...I think she is too.  We will have a great year. 

We are proud of you Phoebe, and we are proud of Riley.  You are amazing young ladies in your own way.  CLASS OF 2017. :)