Ch..ch..ch...changes

On Friday, my baby boy starts kindergarten. It seems like just yesterday that we found out we were pregnant. That only a second ago he was born. It has all happened so fast and now here we are at this milestone. Leo is ready...I am not. We have lived in a bit of a protective bubble for the last few years. We spent three years in preschool surrounded by people who loved and adored Leo. They knew his all his idiosyncrasies. Since Leo’s diagnosis we have heard many horror stories about bad teachers and terrible classmates. We have been blessed his preschool teacher, his paraeducators, and his speech-language pathologist have all been amazing. They handpicked his kindergarten teacher based on how well they know Leo and how much they want him to succeed. I trust them all with my life but I’m still terrified. I don’t know these new people and they don’t know us...they don’t know Leo. They don’t know that when he gets hurt he just needs you to kiss his bumped knee or finger and then he will be fine. They don’t know that when he starts to play with his hair it means he’s tired. They don’t know that even when it seems like he’s not paying attention that he is hearing everything you say. They don’t know that he can’t tell me if someone is mean to him or someone hurts him. They don’t know that he doesn’t understand the idea of someone being mean because no one has ever been mean to him. He has lived a charmed life and I’m not sorry about that. I don’t want him to know that kids will be mean just because they can. I know I can’t protect him forever but I can try. I can surround him with people who want the best for him. This milestone is hard for all parents but especially special needs parents. I hate the back to school notes that remind kids to be nice to people who are different. Be nice to everyone. Don’t be nice to my kid because you feel sorry for him or think he’s different. Be nice to him because that’s the right thing to do. Leo will be fine. Mama might need a minute.

Comments

  1. UnknownAugust 20, 2019 at 6:57 PM

    Aw, Teri. Perhaps you should share this post with Leo's teachers and support staff. Hopefully they are properly trained and will know how to support Leo's needs, and help educate his peers about those idiosyncrasies. Change is never easy, but it leads to great things and yes, Leo is going to change the world!! One day at a time, Mama!! Love you! ~Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  2. jennAugust 21, 2019 at 9:42 AM

    Right there with ya, Mama Bear... Ironically, it was easier for my guy when he was younger and didn't care about "fitting in." Stupid puberty and peer pressure...

    ReplyDelete

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