Re: Zeb update,Sara,, Desi & Lori

[Guest guest]

Hi Ladies,

Sara, believe me I had help from a highly skilled ed consultant and my sister.

She helped write recommendation letters, planned the transition etc. My sister

helped with funding and will check in on Zeb. She is 30 min away from the

university. It was a joint effort. Our school district told Zeb that they would

not support him in any postsecondary education. I couldn't get him out of this

area fast enough. They predetermined his placement in the district's transition

program where Zeb would be driven to area businesses to work for free, recycling

cardboard, filling condiments, folding pizza boxes etc to name a few jobs. Zeb

wrote NO in very large letters on a sheet of paper and placed it infront of the

sped coordinator during an IEP meeting. Zeb told his IEP team that it was his

life and he was going to college. I had never seen him advocate for himself so

aggressively. I was determined to help him realize his choice.

Lori, Zeb hated his day camp and quit when he was 9. He attend a youth

leadership week a few years ago at our state university and did well.

Truthfully, he said he wanted to go to college because that's what his typical

peers were planning. I do not think he understood what college was until this

past year. I spent the past few years discussing life after high school, talking

about realistic career choices and options. It was a work in progress that

coming together. Zeb was very nervous about leaving his home (safe haven) and

having to be responsible for himself. I did my best to prepare him but was open

to the fact that it may not work out. I needed to let him go to grow. Tears are

still streaming down Dad's face each time he speaks with him. He is so afraid

that something will happen to him.

, the internship is an amazing opportunity. Zeb has spoken before our

state's legislature and is very interested in politics. He thinks he is going to

meet with the President. I cannot tell him otherwise. If I know Zeb, he will. I

should have some interesting stories to tell. We have an Italian organization in

our town that has an annual fair. It is at the end of my daughter's street.

During that weekend fair the traffic and parking is awful and you can barely get

to my daughter's home. She has to rope off her driveway and watch that no one

parks at the end of it. Zeb and I happen to stop in on opening night. I had

forgotten that the fair had started. We were chatting in her front yard and our

Congressman and his secretary walked by. I know them so they stopped to chat.

Zeb asked the Congressman what he was doing because our country was going broke.

I don't think this man expected this conversation from Zeb. He turned beet red.

Zeb told him that he

was coming to Washington with the Senator so this Congressman, not to be

outdone, gave Zeb his business card and told him that he could work for him next

fall. I don't know if Washington is ready for Zeb,LOL.

Desi, I didn't expect Zeb's transition to be this smooth. He hated every day of

public school but actually tells me he loves this school. Fingers crossed.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb 18 DS

> **

>

>

> Hi Group,

> Zeb left for Mason University last Thursday. I had double events in

> two different states this past weekend so I was unable to take him. A good

> friend and ed consultant flew to Va with him. It was a busy week. I was

> trying to pack trucks and trailers besides Zeb. I was also worried sick

> about my equipment with the hurricane. Zeb kissed his dog before he walked

> out the door and cried most of the way to the airport. We dropped them off

> that morning and the flight was scheduled to leave on time. Shortly after

> they boarded the plane the flight was delayed twice due to bad weather in

> Baltimore. They sat on the tarmac for two hours. They rented a car and drove

> to Va about an hour drive. Zeb is living in a townhouse with his own room

> and shares a bathroom. The ed consultant told me it was quite nice and

> spacious. There is an RA at all times with the guys. He has a bedroom in the

> finished basement. Zeb has to walk a block to catch the university bus each

> morning. He calls about 2-3 times per day and says he loves it. He was not

> thrilled with all the homework but tells me that he has a homework tutor for

> 90 minutes every day after classes. The guys are planning to have a Labor

> Day party. They have a nice deck with a gas grill, table and chairs and a

> pool in the complex. So far so good. He may never want to come home. He will

> be doing an internship with our state's Senator, Blumenthal in DC

> this spring. He is thrilled but is not all too keen about wearing a dress

> shirt and tie every day. Crossing my fingers that Zeb gets a few a

> scholarships.

> Charlyne

> Mom to Zeb 18 DS

>

>

>

--

Sara- different pathways lead to Nirvana.

[Guest guest]

I know that heart in the mouth feeling. I am so happy that Zeb is getting

the opportunity to be who he thinks he wants to be. ISn't that what all of

us wanted when we left home the first time?

Dad will get over it . Still it is a fearful thing.

Elie hated his stranition jobs after h/s. In h/s he loved working at the

college campus in the dining room. What I always wonder tho was did he love

the job, the girls or the food!!! he hates those jobs now.

> **

>

>

> Hi Ladies,

> Sara, believe me I had help from a highly skilled ed consultant and my

> sister. She helped write recommendation letters, planned the transition etc.

> My sister helped with funding and will check in on Zeb. She is 30 min away

> from the university. It was a joint effort. Our school district told Zeb

> that they would not support him in any postsecondary education. I couldn't

> get him out of this area fast enough. They predetermined his placement in

> the district's transition program where Zeb would be driven to area

> businesses to work for free, recycling cardboard, filling condiments,

> folding pizza boxes etc to name a few jobs. Zeb wrote NO in very large

> letters on a sheet of paper and placed it infront of the sped coordinator

> during an IEP meeting. Zeb told his IEP team that it was his life and he was

> going to college. I had never seen him advocate for himself so aggressively.

> I was determined to help him realize his choice.

>

> Lori, Zeb hated his day camp and quit when he was 9. He attend a youth

> leadership week a few years ago at our state university and did well.

> Truthfully, he said he wanted to go to college because that's what his

> typical peers were planning. I do not think he understood what college was

> until this past year. I spent the past few years discussing life after high

> school, talking about realistic career choices and options. It was a work in

> progress that coming together. Zeb was very nervous about leaving his home

> (safe haven) and having to be responsible for himself. I did my best to

> prepare him but was open to the fact that it may not work out. I needed to

> let him go to grow. Tears are still streaming down Dad's face each time he

> speaks with him. He is so afraid that something will happen to him.

>

> , the internship is an amazing opportunity. Zeb has spoken before our

> state's legislature and is very interested in politics. He thinks he is

> going to meet with the President. I cannot tell him otherwise. If I know

> Zeb, he will. I should have some interesting stories to tell. We have an

> Italian organization in our town that has an annual fair. It is at the end

> of my daughter's street. During that weekend fair the traffic and parking is

> awful and you can barely get to my daughter's home. She has to rope off her

> driveway and watch that no one parks at the end of it. Zeb and I happen to

> stop in on opening night. I had forgotten that the fair had started. We were

> chatting in her front yard and our Congressman and his secretary walked by.

> I know them so they stopped to chat. Zeb asked the Congressman what he was

> doing because our country was going broke. I don't think this man expected

> this conversation from Zeb. He turned beet red. Zeb told him that he

> was coming to Washington with the Senator so this Congressman, not to be

> outdone, gave Zeb his business card and told him that he could work for him

> next fall. I don't know if Washington is ready for Zeb,LOL.

>

> Desi, I didn't expect Zeb's transition to be this smooth. He hated every

> day of public school but actually tells me he loves this school. Fingers

> crossed.

> Charlyne

> Mom to Zeb 18 DS

>

>

>

> > **

>

> >

>

> >

>

> > Hi Group,

>

> > Zeb left for Mason University last Thursday. I had double events

> in

>

> > two different states this past weekend so I was unable to take him. A

> good

>

> > friend and ed consultant flew to Va with him. It was a busy week. I was

>

> > trying to pack trucks and trailers besides Zeb. I was also worried sick

>

> > about my equipment with the hurricane. Zeb kissed his dog before he

> walked

>

> > out the door and cried most of the way to the airport. We dropped them

> off

>

> > that morning and the flight was scheduled to leave on time. Shortly after

>

> > they boarded the plane the flight was delayed twice due to bad weather in

>

> > Baltimore. They sat on the tarmac for two hours. They rented a car and

> drove

>

> > to Va about an hour drive. Zeb is living in a townhouse with his own room

>

> > and shares a bathroom. The ed consultant told me it was quite nice and

>

> > spacious. There is an RA at all times with the guys. He has a bedroom in

> the

>

> > finished basement. Zeb has to walk a block to catch the university bus

> each

>

> > morning. He calls about 2-3 times per day and says he loves it. He was

> not

>

> > thrilled with all the homework but tells me that he has a homework tutor

> for

>

> > 90 minutes every day after classes. The guys are planning to have a Labor

>

> > Day party. They have a nice deck with a gas grill, table and chairs and a

>

> > pool in the complex. So far so good. He may never want to come home. He

> will

>

> > be doing an internship with our state's Senator, Blumenthal in DC

>

> > this spring. He is thrilled but is not all too keen about wearing a dress

>

> > shirt and tie every day. Crossing my fingers that Zeb gets a few a

>

> > scholarships.

>

> > Charlyne

>

> > Mom to Zeb 18 DS

>

> >

>

> >

>

> >

>

> --

>

> Sara- different pathways lead to Nirvana.

>

>