You can't have everything, where would you put it?

[ClingingToHope]

Where to start.

I've not missed an IEP meeting in three years. One thing I've noticed is that the teachers have NEVER read the IEP reports from the prior years. I've asked around and that is common. The whole process seems to start from scratch.

I'm not avoiding this IEP meeting. I can't make be there on that day. I'm working one of the three jobs and need the money. IEP meetings aren't like parent-teacher conferences. Something like six different people have to be there so rescheduling is a nightmare. I'm not going to force anyone to reschedule. The important IEP meeting will be towards the end of the year when it's time to decide where D8 will go to school next year.

I have not had any troubles with D8 on homework this year. All of the missed assignments for both D8 and D11 have come on STBXW's nights. I've actually never worked better with them.

I don't plan on avoiding STBXW forever, but I don't particularly want to see her right now. The D isn't done because of a lack of action on her part. She still has my grandmother's wedding and engagement ring, which worries me, and the fact I'm working all the time while waiting for the D to finish and get the settlement doesn't leave me in a very good mood when I see her.

I really hope a lot of those feelings lessen when the process is over.

What I'm working on now is what is a workable relationship for me. STBXW thinks we should co-exist like old high school buddies, where she can call anytime or stop over or ask me to do this or that for her.

She wants all of the advantages of being married except she wants the house to herself and to go out and do whatever she wants whenever she wants.

Mishka, I hear what you are saying, but again this meeting is really to go over what the process is this year. Last year, there were lots of aides, but they were let go for budget reasons and extra special ed teachers were hired.

Hannah has made tremendous progress on her issues. She's no longer taking any medicine. She's connecting with kids in the class. She has only had one incident where she had to leave the classroom this year. She's almost to the point where she doesn't need to be on an IEP.