Ever since we had Emma, I started sharing our journey of being Cleft Parents. She was our first child and although she taught us a new meaning of love, she also gave my husband and me a new purpose in life and that was to share the journey of being parents to a child with Special Needs.
Emma has had multiple procedures and through it all, we have shared our ups and downs. How this process has challenged our faith, and how it has brought us closer. When we had the twins and Little Darrick was sick, we shared that journey as well! I share our journey because you never know who you may help along the way!
It also serves as a way to educate others, because people are still ignorant in their beliefs of Special Needs! There are those who believe that if they don’t see it physically there is nothing wrong! And if by sharing my story, it can help this ignorance then I will continue to share our story to advocate and educate.
One day while scrolling Facebook, I saw a position available at my daughter’s school. As I was looking at it, my husband must’ve been looking at it as well, because he was hollering from another room about applying. I also had a friend email me the position…I’m a firm believer in signs and this one just hit me with 3 signs! I gathered my cover letter, resume, and references and submitted it. About a week later things started moving, and very moving fast!
When God says it’s time to move, it’s time to move! He doesn’t procrastinate like we do! Within a span of two/three-ish weeks, I had been interviewed, references checked and I had a new job at my daughter’s school!
You are looking at the Associate Director of Enrollment Manager! OMG just saying my title gets me excited!! With this change, I will be leaving the Higher Education world which I have been a part of for the last 13 years! I will now work with the K-12 students with dyslexia, ADHD, and other language- based learning differences and their families!
I quickly learned that this was no longer a passion of mine because of my daughter but it was a ministry that God has called me for!
As I sat at work this week learning new processes and writing as many notes as possible, I initially felt like I was in over my head! I came home and shared with my husband that I felt like it was A LOT! He reassured me that it was probably a lot but God placed you here and you will eventually get the hang of everything, and to take it one day at a time. It’s crazy how when we start new positions we are ready to learn EVERYTHING in one day! Ha! Well yeah, that was me, but I quickly had to tell myself to calm down!
How does Emma feel about the changes? Initially, Emma wasn’t on board! She is very territorial about school and that being her area, but once I explained where I would be working she got excited! I also told her I would be her teacher and yeah well that was a no-go (she didn’t even think that was funny)…she loves her teacher and classmates so that’s where she draws the line! LOL!
How does DJ feel about the changes? I’m not sure if DJ fully understands that I won’t be dropping him off at school anymore. This is where my heart breaks for this situation…although my babies have me “running” in the morning, it’s our time together! After we drop Emma off, it’s Mommy and DJ time, he helps me eat my breakfast. He gives me all the sports updates, we hold hands and talk if I have to stop at any stores. He’s the baby of the family and a Mama’s Boy! So this may be a “process” come Tuesday when I start work! The good thing is…since I will be working at a school I get off some of the days the kids have off and I will be getting home earlier and I will have more time in the evenings with my family as a whole!
My first week in…this week has been pretty awesome! I had a chance to learn how to read IEP’s (Individualized Education Plan) and ETR (Evaluation Team Report) as it relates to admission for the school I work at. I have experience in reading these documents as a parent (for Emma), and occasionally I would read them in my position working at the college. I also “shadowed” the Director as he met with a family, that’s interested in their children coming to the school.
I had the opportunity during my first meeting with a family to speak with the mom and tell her some of the things I expected and the reasons why I loved the school and the community the school has provided!
I am excited about the season of my life and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for my family and myself.
