She goes back to school tomorrow, for one class only. And we break her back into "normality" very gently. The prognosis is good, if slow. Normal function will return, we just don't know when. She is very worried about how she looks and what people will think.
And this is the kid that had signed up for twelve dance routines for competitions next spring. So we've just had to bow out gracefully (or not so gracefully if you could see her!) from all her classes - I have said until at least the new year - and that too has caused great anguish. Apart from that bothersome need to breath, this is probably the most important thing to her right now. And usually, even if you are a bit sick, you go and watch the dance class so you can keep up with the choreography. But even that is too noisy right now.
However, I have placed a dangling carrot ahead of her for the New Year - she has chosen two classes/routines that, IF she is well enough, she can slot back into. Her dance teacher is good with that. The cruel reality is that dollar deposits for costumes are due next week, and I cannot afford to purchase 12 costumes which may languish in a lonely closet next Spring, and remind her of a crappy few months when her legs didn't cooperate. That might rub sparkly sequinned salt into the wound.
Her peers however, all bar two, have been absent. Which doesn't help actually. In a life dictated by Facebook and Instagram, a couple of glib messages have been passed along but no face-to-face real life visits or calls or action. No reassurance from the people that really matter. And for that, I am so disappointed. Maybe I expect too much.
Tomorrow I will be the one fighting off the tears. Like taking my child for her first day of school. She is slow and wobbly and noticeable. She might get mowed down in the frenetic corridors. She will struggle and panic and get frustrated with trying to keep up with the class - all from pressure from within herself. And then she will be home again by 10.30am, and we will dissect her morning over a hot chocolate.
It's a good job my husband and I have very understanding bosses right now. Our timekeeping has been, er, erratic.
What a dreadful time you are all having. I do hope the progress, though agonisingly slow, will continue. I hope, too, that school will not be too tough for her. How disappointing that her friends have not rallied round - maybe they will when they see her struggling.
ReplyDeleteOh Ann, I wish I could wave a magic wand and have her better. It is a very difficult time for all four of you, Kate becasue she is going through this, you as parents seeing your child so distressed and Sarah becasue her sister is not working properly for want of a better description. It is sad that none of her peers have come by to see her or wish her well, when you are 14 they mean so much to you and I am sure the lack of contact is hurting her greatly.
ReplyDeleteShe will recover, the road may be long and "wobbly" but she will get better. Remember as of the 19th I will be hiding around the corner with unlimited amounts of chocolate, kleenex and shoulder should you need it. Bev
I feel bad for your daughter. But healing properly and fully from a concussion is the most important thing to consider. I hope her friends are more supportive once she's at school in person (even if only for one class). Teens can be so self-involved, can't they? But then, adults are often no better, quite frankly.
ReplyDeleteThank you jabblog for your comments, and yes, let's hope the kids are kind to her.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bev. xxx
Deb - you are right, some people whether old or young can be a bit thoughtless. I live in hope! :)