Dear ones, I promise I'll fill you in on our last week, but for now I'm skipping ahead to the present moment. Thanks for you prayers for Isabel yesterday and today. She's having a very hard time with the school situation. And that's putting it mildly.
The Thomas Jefferson school, where she had to take the long exam, didn't work out. Basically they met with me last Thursday to tell me they weren't going to accept her. I had a gut feeling the day we left the exam that it wouldn't be a good fit, so I certainly wasn't surprised. I was a little disappointed that it took a whole week for them to give me the news, which means she's now missed about a week and a half of school. Needless to say, Isabel was elated to not have to go to school last week!
Last Friday, we visited a new school, Maxei, to see if that would be better for her. It's very close to the university, and I loved the place (small, intimate). Isabel, however, hated it, primarily because the facilities were very run down and she thought it was "ugly." I told her the reasons I liked it, but also said we'd visit 2 more schools and then we'd decide together between the three. So Monday we toured Maple Grove (pronounced by all as "Mop-lay") and Colegio Celta (Celtic Academy). Both are private, bilingual Catholic schools which, interestingly, also have French as part of the curriculum. They both seem great, but in very different ways. Iz immediately was drawn to Maple Grove because it's new and smaller, but also liked the fact that Celta had a pool, a swim team, and a weight room located in a beautiful glass room overlooking the pool where parents can come any time to work out. Needless to say, both schools are for Querétaro's wealthy elite.
Both schools have been very accommodating: they will waive the entrance exam and allow her to visit for a day or two to see if she likes it. So, Wednesday we scheduled a full-day visit at Maple Grove and Thursday we were to see Celta. As you all know, Iz had major panic attacks Tuesday night—when I sent the email—so I told her I would stay at the school (in a little conference room she was familiar with) and she could come see me if she was having a hard time. This definitely calmed her down.
The Thomas Jefferson school, where she had to take the long exam, didn't work out. Basically they met with me last Thursday to tell me they weren't going to accept her. I had a gut feeling the day we left the exam that it wouldn't be a good fit, so I certainly wasn't surprised. I was a little disappointed that it took a whole week for them to give me the news, which means she's now missed about a week and a half of school. Needless to say, Isabel was elated to not have to go to school last week!
Last Friday, we visited a new school, Maxei, to see if that would be better for her. It's very close to the university, and I loved the place (small, intimate). Isabel, however, hated it, primarily because the facilities were very run down and she thought it was "ugly." I told her the reasons I liked it, but also said we'd visit 2 more schools and then we'd decide together between the three. So Monday we toured Maple Grove (pronounced by all as "Mop-lay") and Colegio Celta (Celtic Academy). Both are private, bilingual Catholic schools which, interestingly, also have French as part of the curriculum. They both seem great, but in very different ways. Iz immediately was drawn to Maple Grove because it's new and smaller, but also liked the fact that Celta had a pool, a swim team, and a weight room located in a beautiful glass room overlooking the pool where parents can come any time to work out. Needless to say, both schools are for Querétaro's wealthy elite.
Both schools have been very accommodating: they will waive the entrance exam and allow her to visit for a day or two to see if she likes it. So, Wednesday we scheduled a full-day visit at Maple Grove and Thursday we were to see Celta. As you all know, Iz had major panic attacks Tuesday night—when I sent the email—so I told her I would stay at the school (in a little conference room she was familiar with) and she could come see me if she was having a hard time. This definitely calmed her down.
Well, I feel like God has really blessed me with patience, grace, and words to say to Isabel during these times of stress. I have also been blessed by my students. Wednesday afternoon I decided to share with them about the situation (and found myself tearing up in class) and they were amazing—they prayed for me and Iz in class and two have approached me privately about their own history of anxiety and offered to be a resource. They have already taught me quite a bit. What a blessing these students are to me!
At any rate, we were here at Maple yesterday and Isabel only made it through one class period (40 minutes) before coming down crying and saying she needed to leave. I tried my best to talk her into staying for just one more 45-minute period—taking it hour by hour—but she couldn't do it. Four of the girls from her class also came down to escort her back upstairs and they were absolutely adorable. Although all of this relaxed her a bit and she felt better, she just couldn't go back yesterday. We talked and she promised she'd come back here today (Thursday) for a full day on her own. I was skeptical, but happy to hear it. As we were waiting for the taxi to pick us up, the girls came down again, this time with little notes to her telling her they hoped she'd come back to Maple Grove. The little signs are proudly displayed on our refrigerator. I was so touched by this gesture that I instantly knew this would be the place for Isabel. I canceled the appointment at Celta for Thursday.
Last night Iz did much better, though she ended up saying she was sick and couldn't go to school. Still, the panic was minimal and she slept fairly well. This morning was a different story and I once again agreed I'd come to school today and sit in the little conference room. I also said we could take it hour by hour, but asked her to set a goal to stay until at least 10:45 a.m., and if she's doing OK, then longer. Of course, I said I'd stay as long as she needed.
So I'm sitting here once again and freezing; these cement buildings have big windows and no heat and as we're up in the hills, it's arctic here in the mornings! Ah, a mother's sacrifice. Thankfully I brought my work and they gave me internet access. All I need (desperately) is some coffee, but hey, I'm not complaining.
At any rate, we were here at Maple yesterday and Isabel only made it through one class period (40 minutes) before coming down crying and saying she needed to leave. I tried my best to talk her into staying for just one more 45-minute period—taking it hour by hour—but she couldn't do it. Four of the girls from her class also came down to escort her back upstairs and they were absolutely adorable. Although all of this relaxed her a bit and she felt better, she just couldn't go back yesterday. We talked and she promised she'd come back here today (Thursday) for a full day on her own. I was skeptical, but happy to hear it. As we were waiting for the taxi to pick us up, the girls came down again, this time with little notes to her telling her they hoped she'd come back to Maple Grove. The little signs are proudly displayed on our refrigerator. I was so touched by this gesture that I instantly knew this would be the place for Isabel. I canceled the appointment at Celta for Thursday.
Last night Iz did much better, though she ended up saying she was sick and couldn't go to school. Still, the panic was minimal and she slept fairly well. This morning was a different story and I once again agreed I'd come to school today and sit in the little conference room. I also said we could take it hour by hour, but asked her to set a goal to stay until at least 10:45 a.m., and if she's doing OK, then longer. Of course, I said I'd stay as long as she needed.
So I'm sitting here once again and freezing; these cement buildings have big windows and no heat and as we're up in the hills, it's arctic here in the mornings! Ah, a mother's sacrifice. Thankfully I brought my work and they gave me internet access. All I need (desperately) is some coffee, but hey, I'm not complaining.
So what is the situation right now, at 9:55 a.m., you may wonder. I'm very grateful that they have allowed her to leave the room whenever she needs to and to come here to talk to me. From 8-9 a.m. she came down two or three times, in tears, saying it's too hard (they had biology this morning), she doesn't want to sit in the front, and she doesn't want to be here. She sobbed and told me how sorry she was. Each time I just held her close. When I told her I was proud of her, she looked at me perplexed and asked why. "Well," I replied, "it's hard to be in a new school in a new language and you're doing great. You're doing it! It's already 9 a.m. Let's see how the next hour goes, OK?" And with that she wiped her eyes and went back upstairs to the room.
About 15 minutes ago I saw a group of girls go outside, apparently doing a project as they were looking up at something and taking pictures. Isabel glanced at me sitting behind the window and smiled. Off she went with the kids, and then they all went back up to the room.
It's now a little after 10 a.m. and Isabel just came down to my little "office" as the kids are going to "lonche." The biology teacher also came down and told me she enjoyed having Isabel in class, and that she would be happy to work with her individually on her biology from her California textbook. The teacher, by the way, is an M.D. who also studied in the states. Not bad, eh?
I was hoping Iz would stay the day, but she really can't seem to handle it. I told her she had to go to lonche for 15 minutes and she reluctantly went off. I can see her now outside the window, and while she's physically close to some kids, she seems a bit alone, standing there in the cold, looking around. She just glanced at me with that look that says, "how much longer do I have to endure this?"
A few minutes have passed and she's just returned. It looks like we'll be going home now. She made it until 10:45 today and tomorrow, hopefully all day. Time will tell. Please send the prayers.
About 15 minutes ago I saw a group of girls go outside, apparently doing a project as they were looking up at something and taking pictures. Isabel glanced at me sitting behind the window and smiled. Off she went with the kids, and then they all went back up to the room.
It's now a little after 10 a.m. and Isabel just came down to my little "office" as the kids are going to "lonche." The biology teacher also came down and told me she enjoyed having Isabel in class, and that she would be happy to work with her individually on her biology from her California textbook. The teacher, by the way, is an M.D. who also studied in the states. Not bad, eh?
I was hoping Iz would stay the day, but she really can't seem to handle it. I told her she had to go to lonche for 15 minutes and she reluctantly went off. I can see her now outside the window, and while she's physically close to some kids, she seems a bit alone, standing there in the cold, looking around. She just glanced at me with that look that says, "how much longer do I have to endure this?"
A few minutes have passed and she's just returned. It looks like we'll be going home now. She made it until 10:45 today and tomorrow, hopefully all day. Time will tell. Please send the prayers.