The Second Conference
Meet The Farrells Chapter 6
The week after Jamie's birthday party Grace and Oliver were called in for another conference with Molly's teacher. The meeting took place at 5:30pm on a Tuesday. Grace and Oliver were not in the least bit happy to see the look of distress on Mrs. Richards's face.
"What seems to be the problem?" Oliver asked.
Mrs. Richards sighed.
"Since we last met Molly has not made very much progress with her reading and writing. She is not at the same level the rest of her peers are at despite all the help she has been getting from her friends, your family members and the tutor."
Grace's heart dropped in her chest. She was afraid this would happen sooner or later.
"Have the kids started teasing her again?" Grace whispered.
Mrs. Richards nodded. "I'm afraid so but luckily this time around she has friends in her corner to stick up for her. She seems very afraid to stand up for herself against the bullies."
Grace was surprised Molly had not come to her or Oliver to tell them that the teasing had started again.
"Do you still see problems with her social situation?" Oliver asked
Mrs. Richards smiled . "Most definitely not! Molly seems to have found a good support group amongst Jamie Erikson and her group of friends. They are an inseparable bunch."
Grace smiled though on the inside her heart was just about broken. "That's good to hear. It's comforting to know that our daughter is not lonely. She was so miserable earlier this year."
"Is homeschooling still something the two of you are considering for Molly?" Mrs. Richards asked.
Oliver and Grace exchanged a look.
"Do you think it's advisable?" Oliver asked.
Mrs. Richards nodded solemnly. I'm afraid so. It might be the best approach to have work with the tutor in a home setting and then you and Mrs. Warbucks can see the best ways you can help her to achieve success in the future."
Grace was crying. Oliver rubbed his hands up and down her back, kissing her cheek and spoke on both of their behalves.
"Is it advisable to homeschool her for the rest of the school year?"
Mrs. Richards nodded. "Yes, but just because you are homeschooling her doesn't mean she won't be able to see her friends."
Oliver nodded. "Of course. We're not concerned about that at all. Our older daughter is good friend with Jamie's sister so I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot more of Jamie and we can have her and her other friends over for play dates."
"We just want the best for our daughter." Grace was finally able to say through her tears.
Mrs. Richards took Grace's hand and squeezed it gently. "Of course you do Mrs. Warbucks. Molly is a very bright girl but I think her dyslexia really puts a damper on her self-esteem. The teasing doesn't seem to help too much either. Homeschooling her will be the best way for you to see where the trouble spots are on a daily basis so you can help her succeed."
Oliver and Grace stood up and Oliver shook Mrs. Richards's hands briskly.
"Thank you for meeting with us again Mrs. Richards. We will talk with Molly about our plans to home school her."
"You're quite welcome Mr. Warbucks."
Grace and Oliver left the class room and walked to the parking lot in silence. The first five minutes of the car ride home were silent too.
"Grace, sweetheart, are you alright?" Oliver whispered.
Tears were forming again at the edges of Grace's eyes.
"No." was all Grace could manage to respond.
Oliver took one hand off the steering wheel and took his wife's hand in his.
"We have to stay strong for Molly. We've made it this far."
"I know, I just hate that she has to hurt like this Oliver."
"I do too. Do you want to talk to Molly about this or should I?"
"I'm too much of a mess Oliver. I don't think I'll be able to talk to her without wanting to break down."
"Okay, I'll talk to her. I love you baby."
Grace leaned over and kissed her husband on the cheek. "I love you too, more than words."
Grace went to her room as soon as she and Oliver arrived home. Mrs. Pugh noticed right away that Grace was upset and after going to the kitchen to make her a pot of tea went up to her room and knocked on the door.
"Grace , are you alright?"
She was met with nothing but gut wrenching sobs from the other side of the door.
She let herself in the room softly, setting the pot of tea on the nightstand. Grace had changed into her pajamas and was wrapped under the covers.
"Do you want some tea?"
Grace shook her head. She felt like she was living in the ultimate nightmare.
"Will you lay down with me?" she whispered.
"Of course."
As soon as Mrs. Pugh settled under the covers Grace curled into her side.
"I feel so lost right now Helen, so incredibly helpless."
"I take it the conference with Molly's teacher did not go well."
Grace shook her head. "Oliver is in his office talking to Molly right now. I couldn't bear to face her. My heart is just broken in two."
"What's the latest?"
Grace sighed. "We're going to homeschool Molly. Mrs. Richards says it's for the best. Her reading and writing are not at the level they should be at. To make matters worse the same kids are teasing her again."
Mrs. Pugh rubbed Grace's back comfortingly. "Grace, this is what is best for Molly. We can all help her together to be successful and see what exactly she has been struggling with the most. We'll all get through this, don't you worry."
"The fact that the kids are teasing her again just breaks my heart Helen."
"I know dear. As I said before some children are just so cruel. The important difference now is that Molly has friends now. She didn't have that earlier in the year. Think about how much better things have been for her socially."
Grace smiled through her tears. "I am so happy Molly has friends. If Annie hadn't suggested that Jamie and Molly meet things would have been so much different. "
"Come here sweetheart, please don't cry."
Grace curled herself into a ball on Mrs. Pugh's lap, wrapping her arms around the older woman's neck. Mrs. Pugh's embrace tightened around her as she rocked her back and forth stroking her hair all the while.
"We all want the very best for Molly and she will overcome this but you have to be strong for her. Molly seems to have a good group of friends now who will help her stand up against the bullies."
"What makes her so shy to stand up against the bullies herself? I don't understand what stands in her way."
"I can honestly tell you that I don't know the answer to that. It may be best if you talk to Molly about it."
Grace's tears did not subside and as they continued to fall Mrs. Pugh retrieved a handkerchief from her apron pocket and dried them.
"Everything will be alright." Mrs. Pugh stroked the stray hairs from Grace's forehead and kissed it softly.
"I love you." was the only sentence that Grace could muster.
"I love you too Grace, so very much."
Grace fell asleep in Mrs. Pugh's arms. Mrs., Pugh disentangled Grace from her embrace and tucked her in to bed like she used to do with her children when they were young.
"Good night Helen."
Mrs. Pugh kissed Grace's forehead once more. "Good night Grace. Sweet dreams."
Grace had a restless night. The next morning before breakfast she called her mother.
"How were parent teacher conferences?"
Grace started to cry again. "Oh Mama, everything is a complete disaster."
"What's the latest news?"
Grace tried to compose herself. "Mrs. Richards said it's in our best interest to homeschool Molly."
"How do you feel about that?"
"I suppose if it's for the best then there's not much I can do about it. I just had seeing her struggle so much."
"Sweetheart, I know this diagnosis has been a struggle for you to deal with but us Farrells are strong. You'll get through this. How did Molly handle the news about being homeschooled?"
"I don't know yet. I was such a mess yesterday after the meeting that I went directly to bed. Oliver talked to her. I'll find out in a little while how things went."
"Your sisters and I are always here for you whatever you need. I love you my beautiful Grace Elizabeth."
"I love you too Mama. I'll see you soon."
Grace hung up the phone and headed downstairs to join her family for breakfast.
After the breakfast dishes were cleared Molly tugged at Grace's sleeve.
"Mama, can I talk to you?"
Grace smiled. "Sure baby girl, let's go to my room."
Once they were in the room with the door closed Molly threw herself down on the bed bursting into tears.
Grace had a feeling the news about being homeschooled had deeply upset her. She rubbed her hands up and down her youngest daughter's back comfortingly.
"Sweetheart, how did it go with Daddy when he told you were going to be homeschooled?"
"Not good." Molly whispered.
"Come see Mama baby."
Grace gathered her daughter in her arms stroking her hair and rocking her back and forth.
Amongst her sobs Molly managed to say "I don't want to be homeschooled."
Grace grabbed a tissue from the tissue box on the nightstand and dried her daughter's tears.
"Honey, I know this news is difficult for you to deal with but Daddy and I agree with Mrs. Richards that this in your best interest. Daddy and I really want to be able to help you with what you're struggling with."
"I don't want to leave my friends."
Grace smoothed Molly's hair back. "I know darling. We're really hoping this will only be temporary and you'll be back in school sometime after Christmas. You can have your friends over whenever you want."
Molly smiled. " I love you Mama."
Grace kissed her daughter wishing every kiss could take away the pain she was feeling… every last ounce of it.
"I love you too Molly.. to the moon and back. Don't worry about a thing. You'll get through this."
Molly hopped off the bed and left the room to get ready for school. Grace's heart was broken in two for her daughter. She picked up her diary and began to write.
Molly did not take the news about being homeschooled very well at all. I wish she could see that this will really help hern the big scheme of things but I am no t all that sure how long that realization will take to come to her. It breaks my heart to see my little girl so sad but I am hoping home schooling her will help Oliver and I to see what has been giving her such a difficult struggle with her reading and writing. This will be a long next couple of months but I know we will get through it.. we all will.
Last weekend we went down to Boston to spend time wit my mom and sisters. Cathy is planning her wedding and I finally got to meet her fiancée. He is the sweetest man and I am so happy my little sister has found someone so absolutely perfect for her. The wedding will be next October. I have a feeling that if Annie is asked to be the flower girl she will gladly accept. She loved being our flower girl so much and reveled in every minute of it.