If you score 100 percent on a test, you get an A+. If you have 100% attendance, you receive an award. If a company has 100 percent on their safety record, management may reward employees. So, today I guess I get an A+. The speech therapist told my youngest, “Congratulations, you tried out for the team and made it!” I thought that was a clever and positive way to also say that my youngest is now on an IEP for speech as his older brother before him. Next, add in the additional two being on IEPs for bipolar disorder and learning disabilities. Unless I have a long lost missing child that I don’t know about, that makes 100 percent of my children qualifying for an IEP. I’m beginning to feel left out for not being on one myself!!

So why don’t I feel much like celebrating? Was it wrong to hope that one of my children wouldn’t need special services? Was that my own form of self-vindication? Or perhaps, I just never, EVER, wanted to participate in another school meeting? All I know is that each child of mine, who has a need, has that need addressed. I am proud about that even if it puts me in the 100% club. But I must admit that entrance into this new club has put me in the mood for a bit of humor and I’m hoping my blog readers will help me out. I’ll get us started but please post your additional humorous ‘reasons’ in the comments below.

Top reasons that it’s good to have ALL your children on IEPs:

• Nobody feels left out
• You can cheat on IEP goals by copying from previous IEPs
• You have more experience than the new school liaison
• You can impress your friends with special knowledge of acronyms
• You have enough ‘Procedural Safeguards’ to wallpaper any room in the house for free
• The local Dunkin Donuts gives you bulk discounts on donuts for IEP meetings

 *Tracy Anglada will be presenting the workshop ‘Helping Children with Bipolar Disorder Succeed at Home, in School, and Beyond’ at “The First Annual Children's Mental Health Conference” Presented by: FGCU Institute of Government & FGCU College of Education in Ft Myers on Saturday, October 22. For registry information please visit: http://www.fgcu.edu/IOG/featuredworkshops.html