The Name Stamp..

A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to participate in my daughter’s transitional IEP. As a parent of a special needs child, one becomes familiar with an IEP or “Individualized Education Plan” meeting. This meeting becomes a natural part of the path we take as we raise our special needs children. It is usually held once a year during the school year with the parent being invited to attend for the goal of discussing the status of the child at school and mapping out future goals and objectives as each school year folds and unfolds.

During the past eleven years, I have attended numerous IEP’s that It has become kind of second nature to me. I am no longer intimidated by the process like I was years ago during the elementary school year. These meeting seem like they grew on me as the years went by and thus I went into this one expecting the usual discussion that normally had taken place in the past.

With that in mind, I was mildly surprised during the middle of this IEP when my daughter, Alexandra, was called in the room. I did not know what to expect from that since she has never been invited to one of those before. I was even more surprised to see her sitting so appropriately by my side around the large conference table and allowing the teacher to assist her in stamping her name on the IEP forms. I had failed to realize that, as per IEP regulations, a student transitioning into high school is given the opportunity to participate in their IEP and sign, or in our case, stamp, their name as an approval on the necessary documents discussed. She dutifully stamped her name underneath where I had originally signed for her.

As I watched her do this, I reflect upon the past yet once again. I see her as the tiny 12 oz baby that was delivered on an emergency basis almost fourteen years ago. I recall the glass box that housed her for eight months. I see the wires that wrapped her tiny body. I remember the first ten long years of hardships. Ten years filled with medical interventions, therapies, and illnesses. Ten long years of suffering for my child that I wish I could have erased or replaced by a much happier time.
This has been a memorable IEP; my daughter’s” transitional to high” school IEP. I never thought, in my wildest dreams, that I would come to witness this day. Even though the past seem as if it were a dream, it is truly a reality. A reality ingrained in our thoughts and lives. A reality chiseled in our hearts. A reality that brought about this beautiful child who is taking her responsibility so much to heart and stamping her name on documents that she trusts that I took care of for her. 
As I see the name “ALEX” being stamped on one page after another, I dutifully promise my child that she can trust that I will always do the correct thing by her. I may not be able to erase or change the past, but I will always be there helping her along the way to a brighter future..

Copyright 2012 .Najwa S. Hirn. All rights reserved