Saying Goodbye

I've said time and time again...the transition from EI is the hardest for parents, not for the kids.....

Once Nea is offically 3 years old, she "ages out" of Early Intervention Services.  She's been in EI for almost a full year and you've heard me say before that we have been blessed with 3 very awesome therapists in OT, Speech and DT (developmental therapy).

So what is developmental therapy?  (You know I'm going to put stories here, pictures, my raw emotions, struggles, triumphs,etc.  But I wouldn't be me if I didn't educate a little bit as well!)

Development Therapy focuses specifically on HOW a child is developing.  They don't address one particular area (like OT, PT or speech), but look at a  child from a global point of view.  They keep an eye on cognitive skills, language & communication, social-emotional skills, behaviors, gross and fine motor skills and self-help skills.  They take all the information from OT, Speech and any other specialists a child may have (PT, mental health, etc.) and puts it all together through PLAY.  You know the saying, "A child's work is Play" and a developmental therapist lives by this mantra.  A Child Life Specialist does as well!  DT's help kids learn how to stay engaged in play, socialize with peers appropriately, encourage emotional growth and increase communication skills.  A lot, right?

Nea's DT came to our house 2x a week.  You can imagine that over the course of a year, when you see someone 2x a week and do some pretty taxing mental work with them there is a bond that forms.

Nea was very resistant at first.  She didn't want to have to do work while she was at home.  Think about it.  You're lounging around your house, going about your business and your boss knocks on the door....

"Hello! Time to work!"

Huh? What?

Eventually Nea and the DT found a balance, a trusting relationship and she has been part of the reason Nea has made such great progress in such a short time.

So today was Nea's last time with Johanna, her developmental therapist.  Now of course Nea is oblivious to the fact that she won't be seeing Johanna 2x a week.  Ignorance is bliss there is no doubt.

Nea will be getting much of the same type of services that Johanna provided by going to school.  Spending time with peers, working on speech and language, looking globally at a child will be incorporated in her academic career.  That's what that IEP was all about!

And today, Johanna brought a candle, a dilly bar and a birthday present for Nea.

So, meet Johanna.  A very, VERY important person in Nea's life.  Of all the therapists, Johanna had the toughest job because she came into Nea's turf.  But she earned Nea's trust and she was able to teach her colors, share toys, match objects, and so on and so on.

Johanna and Nea

 In short, Nea's success is because Johanna was invested in Nea's success.

Johanna came to every meeting.  She actively participated in the first transition meeting with the school.  She came to the IEP and added VALUABLe information about Nea's progress.  Johanna wrote notes on every interaction and shared them with us after every session.  She also communicated with speech and OT frequently and incorporated many of OT's suggestions when trying to deal with Nea's sensory issues.

Of course Johanna always brought the best toys!  She always had this big bag with awesome stuff that Nea loved.  And I'm not going to lie, Nea was known to try and sneak some of them away!  Nea hordes, and Johanna's toys were not off limits to her capers.  I think we have most things back to Johanna, but there may be a few items that have been "pilfered" by Nea the Ninja.

Today was about celebrating a year of growth, new journeys and bittersweet goodbyes.

A dilly bar, and a birthday candle!

And if you get a birthday present that's very cool, you know it's going to come from your developmental therapist who knows what you love, and knows what toy will continue to help you grow.

Nea played with it most of the day and all evening.

Car garage from Johanna!

We will miss Johanna and all her fun stuff, all her patience and love and her infectious smile.

Thank you Johanna for making this year an exciting and growing one!   We will miss you!!   We hope to see you "around the playground" in the future!