Learning disabilities SUCK.

As anyone with a learning disability, who knows someone with one, learning disabilities suck. It's a special kind of torture in which one car of the learning train is missing, and can send the whole train off the rails.

Linnea is having a very hard time this year. Her grades, at this point, are all Fs.

She's smart. She's doing her homework. Her test scores are abysmal.

It's so hard to watch.

The school is offering one thing: extra time on tests and -if they can- the ability to take the test in a separate room. Unfortunately, it's not enough and I think the time has come to move from an 504 plan to an IEP.

It isn't that she isn't capable of learning to her grade level. It's that she is incapable of proving that she's learned, given the ways she is being tested. When we tell them that, the school just offers more time.

There is also some concern because the district does not appear to have any placement that would, in fact, work for her or if they do, we haven't found where that is. There are places for kids with severe autism, and kids with behavioural issues, and kids with this that and everything else, but for a kid who truly could probably do fine in school if, instead of being made to sit down by herself in front of a piece of paper to prove her knowledge, she was able to demonstrate what she knew orally, or even take a test with open notes.

It truly isn't a lack of intelligence. She's funny, creative, punny, and manipulates language in clever ways.

And getting Fs.

I think it's time for an IEP, but my spouse is convinced they'll just reduce what they're asking her to do, rather than change the way she's assessed. I just know, at this point, that this cannot continue.

Also, beloved spouse.

You said you were ok with her going to homecoming with a group of friends, if I was ok with it, leaving me to be the meanie if I didn't want her to go.

Here's the problem: she needs a fucking DRESS, and she's picky. At this point, she's finding $300 dresses online that won't get here in time for Saturday. She also wants new shoes, she claims the ones from last year no longer fit, but since she's adamant that she wants heels and the shoes in question are her orchestra flats, I'm not sure I beleive her.

Who is going to find time between school, rowing, and other things to get her to the fucking store to get a fucking dress? When you are at the museum board meeting tomorrow evening, AND gone all day Saturday, if we have to leave it that late? Who gets to drop her off, at least, and probably pick her up?

I am NOT pleased with this.

Usually my dh is so very good about stuff like this. Apparently he thought she'd just wear the black pants and shimmery top she wore in middle school. He never asked if the pants still fit after a year plus or rowing....