Friday: Mental Health Day
Mar. 15th, 2024 06:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
walkitoutWe did not have to get up this morning, well, at least not at the usual time, because we took a Mental Health Day. This was a Really Good Decision.
I had a delightful phone conversation with K., who reminded me that D.’s kids went to Brightmont. This is foreshadowing.
I called Acton Medical and asked for a referral for A. She used to have a neurologist, but we haven’t taken her to that doctor for over 3 years and that doctor / location requires at least every 3 years to be an active patient and they are not taking new ones. I was warned about this a while back and confirmed it on their website. A.’s doctor is not working today, so I’m not sure when we will hear back and whether A. will need to go in to see the doctor to access a referral.
I did _not_ call the lawyers yet, because I still don’t know what I want the school system to do, other than not be a part of my life anymore. Well, that’s not quite right. T. is still doing great there.
I spent a lot of time talking A. through the plan I have (phone it in until she turns 16, withdraw her and have her sit for the GED or HiSET until she passes and then just live her best life). She’s just not sure if she will regret that or not. My comment was basically, you don’t have to quit — you have that option at any time.
R. does not like this plan either. He’s concerned about her becoming completely housebound. I’m like, but think of the travel options this would open up! He agrees that is appealing, but would also like an alternative school option. We talked about Colebrook, but I pointed out that they do inclusion classes at ABRHS, so that’s not likely to help much, and I would expect massive resistance to putting her in Colebrook anyway. I asked if he had any other ideas, and he did not.
OK, foreshadowing countdown complete!
Is there a Brightmont in Massachusetts?
No.
Is there _any_ 1:1 private school in Massachusetts?
Yes. In Burlington, Newton and Hingham, there is Fusion Academy. I sent a text to B., whose son went to a 1:1, and I asked which one. And it was Fusion. The young man still has friends from his time at Fusion (in Seattle) and is attending Western (because everyone goes to Western).
I tried calling, but there was a wait, and I left a voice mail. I’ll try again on Monday, probably. But between the website, B. and asking questions of those two sources of information and being _extremely_ happy about the answers, we are — it’s risky to even say it out loud — feeling hope and happiness.
I should do Mental Health Day a lot more often.
ETA: Oh, and the vice principal has completely walked back the word “punch”. He’s now asking for me to fill out the HIPAA thing or whatever so that A.’s therapist can “work together” with the school. I only _got_ the therapist, because I was under a lot of pressure to get A. a therapist, and I figured the best strategy would be to get someone who was Entirely Team A., and then _not_ sign the form for as long as possible (is this malicious compliance? Yes, yes it is). R., A. and I discussed whether or not to sign the form, and we will be discussing with the therapist (R. will also be attending) next Wednesday the form, and our feelings about it. Based on _that_ conversation, we will decide whether or not we sign the form.
It barely seems relevant at this point, because I also sent email to the resource room teacher — who we’ve known for years, because our son used to have her a long time ago in CASE — attempting to get her to tell me if she knows anything about Burlington’s Fusion Academy, ideally in the form of someone else who would be willing to talk to me on the phone. I’m not totally convinced this won’t get shared with a lot of people, and I’m absolutely not convinced I will get any response at all, but it seemed worth the sharing risk to at least ask the question.
ETA:
We had a long FF today, and it was highly enjoyable. It’s really nice that I can continue to be my worst self and my friends are still really understanding and kind. They are amazing. I want everyone to have friends who are as kind to them as mine are to me. (I don’t think anyone could be more kind, but if that’s possible, I wish you that as well!)
Lehigh Valley Workshop did a 7 pm drop but there was still a dumpster fire sign with Everything Is Fucked and We’re All Gonna Die on it, so I bought one, because, how perfect is that it was just sitting there waiting for me at midnight.
I had a delightful phone conversation with K., who reminded me that D.’s kids went to Brightmont. This is foreshadowing.
I called Acton Medical and asked for a referral for A. She used to have a neurologist, but we haven’t taken her to that doctor for over 3 years and that doctor / location requires at least every 3 years to be an active patient and they are not taking new ones. I was warned about this a while back and confirmed it on their website. A.’s doctor is not working today, so I’m not sure when we will hear back and whether A. will need to go in to see the doctor to access a referral.
I did _not_ call the lawyers yet, because I still don’t know what I want the school system to do, other than not be a part of my life anymore. Well, that’s not quite right. T. is still doing great there.
I spent a lot of time talking A. through the plan I have (phone it in until she turns 16, withdraw her and have her sit for the GED or HiSET until she passes and then just live her best life). She’s just not sure if she will regret that or not. My comment was basically, you don’t have to quit — you have that option at any time.
R. does not like this plan either. He’s concerned about her becoming completely housebound. I’m like, but think of the travel options this would open up! He agrees that is appealing, but would also like an alternative school option. We talked about Colebrook, but I pointed out that they do inclusion classes at ABRHS, so that’s not likely to help much, and I would expect massive resistance to putting her in Colebrook anyway. I asked if he had any other ideas, and he did not.
OK, foreshadowing countdown complete!
Is there a Brightmont in Massachusetts?
No.
Is there _any_ 1:1 private school in Massachusetts?
Yes. In Burlington, Newton and Hingham, there is Fusion Academy. I sent a text to B., whose son went to a 1:1, and I asked which one. And it was Fusion. The young man still has friends from his time at Fusion (in Seattle) and is attending Western (because everyone goes to Western).
I tried calling, but there was a wait, and I left a voice mail. I’ll try again on Monday, probably. But between the website, B. and asking questions of those two sources of information and being _extremely_ happy about the answers, we are — it’s risky to even say it out loud — feeling hope and happiness.
I should do Mental Health Day a lot more often.
ETA: Oh, and the vice principal has completely walked back the word “punch”. He’s now asking for me to fill out the HIPAA thing or whatever so that A.’s therapist can “work together” with the school. I only _got_ the therapist, because I was under a lot of pressure to get A. a therapist, and I figured the best strategy would be to get someone who was Entirely Team A., and then _not_ sign the form for as long as possible (is this malicious compliance? Yes, yes it is). R., A. and I discussed whether or not to sign the form, and we will be discussing with the therapist (R. will also be attending) next Wednesday the form, and our feelings about it. Based on _that_ conversation, we will decide whether or not we sign the form.
It barely seems relevant at this point, because I also sent email to the resource room teacher — who we’ve known for years, because our son used to have her a long time ago in CASE — attempting to get her to tell me if she knows anything about Burlington’s Fusion Academy, ideally in the form of someone else who would be willing to talk to me on the phone. I’m not totally convinced this won’t get shared with a lot of people, and I’m absolutely not convinced I will get any response at all, but it seemed worth the sharing risk to at least ask the question.
ETA:
We had a long FF today, and it was highly enjoyable. It’s really nice that I can continue to be my worst self and my friends are still really understanding and kind. They are amazing. I want everyone to have friends who are as kind to them as mine are to me. (I don’t think anyone could be more kind, but if that’s possible, I wish you that as well!)
Lehigh Valley Workshop did a 7 pm drop but there was still a dumpster fire sign with Everything Is Fucked and We’re All Gonna Die on it, so I bought one, because, how perfect is that it was just sitting there waiting for me at midnight.