Almost Eleven and Back To School

Yesterday was Steven's birthday party, timed to coincide with the visit of his two out-of-town cousins Gannon and Ian.

Three rounds of Laser Tag with a group of boys ranging in age between 8 and 11. Pizza and cake.

There was a girl's 9-year old birthday party going on at the same time. The girls provided excellent targets for the boys, they couldn't have asked for anything better than that.

Steven's birthday is on September 6, he'll be eleven, and what a blessing that is for us. We don't take birthdays for granted any more.

School starts on Monday. We are mourning the end of the summer, school was a struggle last year so we are girding ourselves for this year's challenges.

One new thing will be ritalin, we are going to give it a try to see if it will help with his attention issues this year. Fifth grade is all about writing, and since his treatment, writing has become a special challenge.

The school posted their class lists yesterday, after business hours. Steven has been assigned to the same class as the only child in the school who has found it appropriate to tease him about his hair loss and his voice and to encourage others to do the same. The only child who has caused to come home in tears on more than one occasion.

Steven is a happy kid and he has bounced back from so many terribly sad things, but the prospect of spending 30+ hours per week in the same room with his tormentor is making him sad and apprehensive.

We are praying that this was an oversight, and that they will consider placing him in one of the other fifth grade classes.

- Kathleen