Well, nothing brings your vacation to a screeching halt like coming home to your kid’s report card. I think that maybe parents who’ve been on vacation need some sort of reentry procedure. Only instead of electrodes behind the ears I’m thinking a bubble bath, soothing music, and a big glass of wine.

But no.

I arrived home and discovered that Charlie’s report card had appeared while I was away. Yeah, my three-year-old has a report card and the truth is, it’s not pretty. It doesn’t have grades on it, but letters to represent completion, progress, or no progress.

Charlie had row after row of “not progressing.”

Ouch.

It was tough. I’m not going to lie. I was never an over-achiever, but it was a rare day when a C appeared on my report card. Getting one full of “F’s” is far from my area of expertise. Truthfully, a report card full of B’s isn’t even my area. I never struggled in school.

So, after I picked up my ego off the floor and dusted it off, I looked over the paper of doom again. I looked very specifically at the our goals.

I think, maybe, we’re too broad. Some are just way off. I mean, one of the goals is that he’ll count to five. Since he can’t speak, I don’t think he’ll be counting five any time soon.

So, yeah, we’re going to take that one off. I’d like to keep the goals about recognizing colors and body parts, but maybe lower his accuracy rate. This is a kid who HATES to be quizzed too much, so you’re lucky if you get a couple of right answers out of him. I, personally, have seen marked improvement in his identification of eye, nose, and mouth, so something’s getting through.

I’ve also seen improvement in social interaction in both private and public areas. He responds more quickly to his name and engages strangers even. He’s drinking better than ever–and I don’t mean the amount, I mean the way he drinks–less pouring water in his mouth and more slurping/sucking.

I think what I’m seeing is that he’s improving in the areas that are most important to me–social interaction, group dynamics, expressing needs, and other social cues. It wasn’t the best report card.  I knew it was possible we would be here–knew we would face some getting to know you. The Charlie path has never been straight–we’d make a horrible movie of the week with no gorgeous perfect ending or storybook finale.  Stings at first, but now I’m back on track and I’m going to make sure I’m supporting school activities at home. I believe he’s learning, but these things take time to show.  Nothing with Charlie has ever been quick or easy, but we’re getting there.