I'm Doing a 5K..........

I registered for this event a few weeks ago. I should have put this up sooner, so my friends and family could donate if they want. It's not too late if you feel generous and you have something, anything to contribute. I've been wanting to do a 5K for a while and I've been waiting and waiting for my body to be up to it, but time is passing by and 5Ks are coming and going. So, I finally just jumped in and planted my flag. I have no intention of running it; I just want to complete it.

The race also happens to be for Autism. We have a friend with an Autistic child. This is who I will be racing for. Well, that was my intention anyway. Now it looks like I may also be racing for one of my own children. Cameron is now in the evaluation process. This has been a hard week for us, having a specialist at school tell me on Monday that he has autistic like symptoms. Then him being seen by a pediatrician on Wednesday who specializes in childhood disorders. That pediatrician has referred Cameron to an Autistic specialist. We shall see.

If Cameron turns out not to have any kind of Autism, wonderful. But we do know something is wrong. Anyone who spends a great deal of time with him sees it. Monotone voice, obsessions, auditory processing problems, etc. Anyway, if it turns out to be something else, great. Still there are others out there that need more help. That's why I'm racing.

Please help if you can. The race is on Saturday, March 27th.


Click Here to Donate

Eclipse Trailer

The Reasons

Hello everyone.  I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up with this blog for the past few months.  It took me a while to figure out why I've been avoiding it, but I had a lightbulb moment a couple of days ago.  I've been avoiding it because there are certain people that I don't want reading it.  I don't want to make it private and have everyone sign in though.  So, I've just been staying away.  In a couple of weeks I will probably discontinue this blog.  I've explained to my mom and my mom-in-law why I will be doing this.  So, any questions from family can go to them, or email me.  As far as everyone else, just email me, or leave a comment letting me know you want to still follow me.  I do intend to start another blog, and I will email that address out to you as soon as I come up with a name for it.  Any suggestions? 

For now I'll give you an update on Cameron's school, daycare and where we are not moving when Chris retires in a few months.

On the last day of school before winter break in December, two 3rd graders came up to Cameron during recess.  Cameron was preparing to eat his snack, a granola bar and a Yoohoo drink.  The boys asked if they could have it.  Cameron told them no.  They took it and ran.  There was no adult around for Cameron to tell.  When winter break was over, Cameron really fought me about going to school because he didn't want those boys to take his snack again.  I told him I would be there for recess.  And I was.  Cameron pointed the boys out, and I pulled the new principal aside and pointed them out to her.  That's how I found out they were 3rd graders.  Supposedly, she took care of it.  

Two days later, when we are getting ready to leave for school, I walk into the kitchen and catch Cameron with the the 7-inch Chef's knife trying to sneak it into his backpack.  You won't even believe how upset I was.  Not at Cameron, but at the school.  I'm getting angry just typing this.  I was LIVID.  My precious little 5-year old felt he needed to take a knife to protect himself from the bullies.  Nuh-uh....I'm not having that.  That was the absolute final straw.  When I got to the school, I pulled aside the only person that I've seen actually look like they care about Cameron, his speech therapist.  When I told her, I could see her get just about as upset as I was.  She pulled aside Cameron's teacher, and the principal.  She said, "This has gone too far.  Cameron does not feel safe.  Mrs. Sinclair has done her job by stopping Cameron from bringing a knife to school.  It is time for the school to do it's job.  Something must be done today."

That day the Kindergartners and 1st graders were separated from the the rest of the grades during recess.   Although it's gotten kinda lax since then, it's still pretty much that way.  They are separated for the most part.  And I have been there every day for recess, minus about 3 times.  The first week I was there, I witnessed those two 3rd grade boys walk up to Cameron when he was putting his snack on the table.  I started approaching.  The smaller boy grabbed the bigger boy on the arm and looked toward me.  The bigger boy looked up, made eye contact with me, and they both turned around and went their way.  Yeah, you better hightail it outta there you turds.   

Like I said, I've been there just about every day.  I don't hover over Cameron; I want him to go play.  I keep my eyes on him quite a bit, and I watch the other kids too.  I have figured out that there are just not enough adults out there to watch that many kids.  My third day there, I saw a special needs boy start climbing over the rail of the slide about 6 feet high.  The special needs teachers were there, closer than I was, but they were dealing with other students.  I yelled out, "HEY!"  and started running toward him.  One of the men looked up just in time to put his hands up and block the boy from tumbling over the side.  Jeeze, I nearly had a heart attack.  I've had kids come up to me and tell me that so and so is being mean and bossing them around.  I saw a boy whipping a jumprope at some kids.  And the worst of all I think, was a girl running around with a rope looped around her neck pulling two kids behind her who were hanging on to that rope as if she were a horse.  That was pretty shocking.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  

So, yeah, that school needs more parent volunteers.  There's much more I can tell you about the goings ons, but, I don't want this post to be any longer.  

So, to finish up....my time spent at the school has put the whole daycare thing on the back burner.  I've done all of the classes and bought quite a bit of stuff for it, but it's just not as important to me as Cameron is.  So, anyway, we haven't been able to come up with a surplus of money to pay off our debts or save up for our move.  So, Alaska is not going to happen.  I know that pleases the majority of the family and friends, but we are pretty bummed about it, but whatever.  Maybe someday we will be able to afford a vacation there.

So, that's all I'm gonna write for now.  It's a pretty long post.  I intend to put some pictures up in the next couple of days.  They are from the Monster Jam in January, and the zoo in February, but hey, they're pictures.   

Till next time...

 

I can't lose any weight with her around....

Offer: 18 year old girl.
Pretty helpful around house.
Tidy.
Mega Sweet-tooth.
Loves comic books, anime, and super heros.
Comes with driver's license and car.
Good company.

You must be willing to house her and make sure she goes to college. Also, you must fly here to drive back to where ever you live with her.

Only serious offers need apply.

What's next?

Yesterday, when I was waiting in front of Cameron's school for him to be dismissed, I had a conversation with the father of the another white boy in Cameron's class. Seems that boy has been having problems too. The father has been to the school several times to express his concerns. The boy has gone to the teacher several times to tell her someone is being mean. She has said she doesn't want to hear it. This is according to the father. Our experience with the teacher seems to be a little different. (It could be because we have created such a stink about it.) Although, I will admit she seems quite scatter-brained and too busy at times. She works with 5-6-7 year-olds all day, so I think she's entitled to screw up sometimes, but not when a child is asking for help from bullies. NEVER, EVER mess that up. Anyway, the father had a meeting with the principal a couple of months ago after his son was hurt by several other kids on the playground and had to spend recess in the nurse's office being iced. He asked the principal what the punishment is for the children who physically harm other children. She informed him that they get talked to, a note sent home, and they spend recess in the Principal's office. He called his son into the office with him and told him the next time a kid hits him, then clobber them. The principal told him he couldn't tell his son that. And he said to the principal, "Why not? There's no punishment. My son's missing out on recess anyway because he's in the nurse's office. If there's no punishment, the bullies are going to keep bullying and the kids being bullied are getting hurt and then punished because they miss recess when they did nothing wrong." I agree with him 100%. He also told me that these past couple of weeks the kids have been calling his son names. The teacher said she didn't want to hear it, so the father told his son to call names back. Guess who got in trouble. Yes, the white boy. Father was up at the school again letting them know how he feels about the difference the races are treated. When the Principal's secretary told him there was no favoritism toward the Hispanics, he disagreed and said, "Everything done at this school is to please the Mexicans, don't give me that bull." Um, once again, here here!

So, his experience seems to be much the same as ours. I think we just made a bigger stink of it and maybe threatening to call the superintendent did something for us. Maybe Cameron is just on the radar of so many people since he has an IEP and an apparent processing disorder. Maybe they are taking better care of Cameron because he doesn't process threats as quick as other kids and they know he will get hurt. I don't know. I do know that hitting, threats, and racist name calling should be zero tolerance. Period. Hitting and other physical violence should be automatic suspension, especially after a note sent home didn't work. The boy that hit Cameron the other day has been talked to and had a note sent home more than once. From what I've heard, the mother of the boy doesn't care. They watch the Ultimate Fighting and wrestling shows together as a family. From what I understand, they make income off of it somehow, maybe betting? I don't know. And just so you know, I'm not going around asking about this kid or anything, I still don't know which boy it is. I know the name, not the face. This info is just being randomly given to me by several people. Staff people who are also sick of the bullying and think something more extreme should be done as far as consequences for violence. I suspect they don't say anything because they don't want to stir the pot and risk their jobs. There are so many unemployed teachers/ school staff in California right now, that the ones that do have jobs just avert their eyes and keep their mouths closed. Hoping that someone like me will come along and be the squeaky wheel and incite a change. This change is not something I know how to do. I guess the first step is complaining to the principal. Then what? Superintendent? Lawyer? Media?

Odio la escuela de Cameron

The title is supposed to say...I hate Cameron's school. I don't know for sure since I DON'T SPEAK SPANISH. But that's what the online English/Spanish translator gave me when I submitted it.

About a month ago Cameron started asking Chris to come to school to protect him. We just kinda thought Cameron was having a bad day here and there and that was his way of expressing it. We didn't realize that it was every day. On November 30th, I went to the office and asked for an appointment with the principal. I was told to wait a few minutes and the principal would be with me. I waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, I called Chris on my cell while I was right there in the office, and read off the principal's name and phone number that were posted on the wall. (I felt like one of those people that call 911 while they are in the ER waiting for help.) I had him call for an appointment personally since, 1, I wanted to make sure it would be for a time that Chris would be there, and 2, because Chris is the one that Cameron has been asking for protection. Chris was able to speak to the principal by phone and explained that Cameron was being bullied and asking for protection. The principal seemed genuinely concerned. She set up the appointment for December 3rd, and assigned someone to keep an eye on Cameron on the playground and take notes. December 3rd came; we had a phone conference since the principal had fallen and hurt her back and was not cleared by her doctor to return to school. Present at the meeting were Cameron's teacher, the principal's secretary, and me and Chris. The principal's secretary read the notes that the monitor had taken; we found out that the situation was a bit worse than we imagined. One of the observations was on November 30th, (the day I first brought their attention to the bullying.) It stated that while Cameron was heading back to his class after lunch recess, an older boy (possibly a third grader) said, "Let's get him." Then he and three boys went after him. The monitor stopped them before they got to him. It hurts me to think what would have happened if I wouldn't have gone that day. The person wouldn't have been watching for this. The meeting lasted about 45 minutes and we left feeling like maybe there was hope. The principal later sent this email: (I've replaced the names with the title of the person)

From: Principal
Sent: Thu 12/3/2009 10:32 PM
To: Cameron's teacher; csinclair19@xxxxxxx
Cc: School councelor; Principal's secretary
Subject: RE: Cameron

Thank you Ms. Teacher. Excellent steps taken.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, Mrs. Secretary and Mrs. Teacher,

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, Mrs. Secretary and Mrs. Teacher for participating in the phone conference this morning. I am so sorry I was not able to be there in person.

As per my notes Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair reported the following regarding Cameron:

* Cameron is feeling unsafe at school.
* Mr. Sinclair reported that Cameron asked dad if he could go to school with him to protect him.
* Mr. Sinclair reported the following students have been bothering Cameron:
* Gabrielle
* Jonathan
* Erica
* Kimberly
* Orelly
* Jose C.
* Around Nov. 10 Cameron came to school with a hurt finger. Gabrielle purposefully slammed her hand on his hurt finger. Cameron did not report this incident to the teacher. When parents asked Cameron why he didn't tell the teacher, he replied by stating that he didn't want to get anyone in trouble. Mrs. Sinclair also reported that Cameron shared that when he told Mrs. Student Teacher about a previous incident that she replied by saying, " So you are blaming the other student." Cameron of course did not feel supported at all by this comment. Mrs. Sinclair said Cameron is not comfortable telling the adults at school when something goes wrong.
* Mrs. Sinclair reported that Cameron begins to cry when he is picked up from school as though he is communicating relief from the stress of the day.
* Cameron shared that Gabrielle told him he is disgusting.
* Another child (name unknown) held his fist up to his face and told him he was going to hit him.
* Wrestling behavior on the playground
* Parents reported that Cameron asked. " When is my skin going to be brown?" and " I am never going to be Hispanic."

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair for sharing your concerns with us. I am deeply sorry that this negative behavior has been occurring here at school for your son Cameron. It is completely unacceptable. Our action plan is the following:

* Continue with vigilant supervision on the playground so that we can completely curtail this type of behavior.
* I will communicate this concern to the rest of the staff as well so that it may be more effectively addressed on the playground.
* Mrs. Teacher will continue with the steps she mentioned. As well as call other parents of students who may be repeated offenders.
* We all need to talk to Cameron to encourage him to let the adults know when he is feeling unsafe or hurt emotionally or physically by others and continuously enforce that he is safe at school.
* When Ms. School Councelor returns I will ask her to work with Cameron and other children in small group counseling to foster a better understanding among the children.
* I will touch base with Cameron every day once I return.
* We will stay in close contact with Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair.

Mr. and Mrs, Sinclair please call us immediately should Cameron feel unsafe in any way. Thanks again for sharing your concerns with us. We will continue our commitment in keeping Cameron safe.

Thank you Ms. Teacher, Ms. Secretary and Ms. Councelor for your continued dedication and support.

Regards, ~Mrs. Principal

________________________________
From: Cameron's Teacher
Sent: Thu 12/3/2009 2:27 PM
To: Principal
Subject: RE:

FYI- Cameron Sinclair
Did a total class lesson- 2nd step.Talked to small group of identified students.Talked to Cameron alone and determined that the JONATHON is from Room 12.Unable to phone Gabrielle's mom. Sent note with Prime Time teachers so she will be sure to get it.Talked to Mrs. Sinclair after school assuring her that we are working on it. She was content. I hope you are feeling better!

xoxox
teacher
********************************

This past Thursday, December 10th, I got a call from the school nurse. Cameron had been punched in the face at lunch recess and was in the nurse's office being iced. We picked him up early, but by the time we were notified, it had been about 45 minutes and the redness was pretty much gone. I tried to get a good picture of his pink cheek to post here and to have for when/if we try to take further action against the school. Unfortunately, my good camera met the floor at 3-year-old-tantrum-miles-per-hour a few months ago and I haven't been able to replace it. So, no decent picture. By the way, we do have a camera now that hopefully we won't need for such pictures. We are still trying to decide how far we want to go with this. We are extremely concerned. We feel that there should be something more than "a talking to" and time out for such behavior. I don't care what the age is. School should be a safe place. I have worries that Cameron is going to be pushed from the top of the playground equipment. Or, something more extreme...is he going to be shanked? Is there going to be some kind of Cameron's Law in the future? I pray not.

I have more to say, but this is pretty long already. If anyone has any opinions/ideas on what we should do, please let me know through comments or email. We really are lost right now.

So, I have this blog to keep people updated.....

And I never write on it.

I've had many things going on. I promise to write more later TODAY.