As a teacher, I love September. I love the smell of freshly polished wood floors. I love the feel of a new pen on the first page of a new notebook. I love the sounds of lockers slamming and kids laughing. It is my favorite time of year because it is so full of promise and excitement.<\/p>\n
As a parent of a kid with Tourette Syndrome, however, I dread September. I dread the moans and groans of my child when I try to wake him up for school, knowing that he has every right to be grumpy because his tics kept him up late into the night. I dread the frantic phone calls to doctors to see if we can adjust his medication, because we still haven\u2019t figured out what works. I dread the notes home from teachers explaining that my son had a hard time in school (again). It is a treacherous time of year for him and for me.<\/p>\n
Before I became a parent of a special needs kid, I never fully appreciated how difficult school can be for some students. I give those students (and the families that support them) a lot of credit. So, good luck to you, TS families. Here\u2019s hoping for a school year that is full of progress and understanding.<\/p>\n