We did have one "snow" day during the strike. Noa has rather famously disliked snow forever. It's cold and it's just... everywhere! But we keep trying to convince her that's fun. The only thing Noa seems to like about snow is sledding. When were were at Grammy and Grampy's it's was great because they have hills. Unfortunately for us (and by "us" I mean Ben) we just have a long flat garden - and so Ben, like a pack mule, pulled Noa back and forth in a sled we borrowed from another kid. Noa still hated the snow and as soon as it was clear that Daddy was finished pulling her around she was ready to go in.
Other fun during the strike - my MLK heart scare turned into a series of appointments and the discovery of my seriously high cholesterol levels and a realization that I had to do a better job of taking care of myself overall (as soon as the heart stuff was resolved, I got shingles - I think my body is sending me a message).
But health aside, the BIG lesson for us from the strike is what a delicate house of cards we've constructed to make our lives work. Years and years of near constant battles with the Board of Ed, with Medicaid, keeping ourselves in sitters and therapists and doctors, getting wheelchairs, leg braces, standers, walkers, bikes, canes, fighting for ASL, researching CVI; all of it so carefully set in place with each piece stacked one upon the next, but it only takes one missing school bus to blow it all apart. It gave us a lot to think about, and it was a pretty harsh reminder of what happens when there is a hole in the social safety net.
I will admit that it left me feeling rather disappointed that during an era full of "occupies" of every variety nobody could be rallied to action (or even to remember the plight of) so many kids like Noa who were kept home and missed not only school but medical and therapy apts, and their parents (some of whom lost their jobs during the strike). I did try a couple of time to rally some energy - I put out missives to the "occupy" community - nothing. I would look at my window overlooking First Avenue - just packed with cars - and wonder over and over how it could be that we can't get these kids to school.
Getting back on a regular school schedule has been a bit of a challenge. Noa got used to getting up later, and there wasn't really an urgency about missing the car service - but the bus, it doesn't wait around like that! So morning have been a bit of a challenge. And - as happens with any disruption - there is a bit of a backslide. Mainly it's just that having so many new people around allows Noa to get more bossy; she gets used to people who don't totally understand her so she figures out how bend them to her will. Smarty. But we're slowly but surely getting back on track. It's been quick a winter. Let's try not to do this again!
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