Promotion

Hey all,

This week JB promoted to grade 2.  I really wasn't into going and kinda thought a promotion from grade 1 to grade 2 was kind of dumb.  But then, someone reminded me that it's all about accomplishments and I cried!  How silly of me not to think about that......but what she said made me reflect on the progress JB has made.

He has come completely out of his shell.  He was the star in a school play, told jokes in the talent show, strived to be a top reader, loved getting 100% on his IReady computer tests, and was in the school Spelling Bee!  My kid has done all these things, all these wonderful things.....but this is not all he has done!

JB is popular.  I didn't know this about him.......BUT, I received an email from his teacher on the last day of school.  The email was just to tell me how much she would miss JB.  But in sharing that, she shared that JB is loved by all staff.  They always seek him out for a high 5 or hug and he brightens their days when things aren't going so well.  Every morning, he acknowledges the office staff and wishes them a good day.  And he gets along well with other students.  On the day of his promotion, the other kids all gave him congratulatory high 5's but there was one kid, one kid who hugged Josh so tight.  A 5th grader who told JB that he was like a little brother and he loved him more than anything.  He hugged JB for a long time and cried....when asked why he hugged JB for so long???? The response was that JB is "my little buddy and makes me so happy!"

Oh man, so powerful.  That's what any parent wants to hear for their kid.  But me, my kid is autistic, and you want them to have the life you hope for them.  At this school.....he does!  Kids with special needs need the kind of love that makes them feel like an everyday kid because essentially that is what they are......I feel like shit missing JB's promotion.  I had not thought of it as celebrating accomplishments.  But I should have......so shame on me.  But, it truly made me reflect on his year and his growth which is a good thing.  Amazing things do happen.....little moments are big.   He has become a little man and even though we still face challenges, there is hope!  That hope takes me far and I will l forever carry that hope forward because I know my autistic kid can!

TTFN
Martha