"It's a miracle day!" We use this phrase when it seems that the stars have aligned, the full moon is gone and, the calm before the anticipated storm stays calm.
These days are far and few between but when they do, it's a miracle. It's a miracle when our non verbal boy says, "Bye, bye" while waving or when one of our autistic boys successfully uses his Picture Exchange Communication System as a way to communicate his needs. It's even a miracle when a little girl actually answers a question instead of repeating it, or talks appropriately rather than her usual jibber jabber, which consists of, "Hi, are you OK? Oh, I'm OK, Oh thank you, Your welcome," She takes 'talking to yourself ' to a whole new level.
But the miracles of all miracles happened, which actually makes me contemplate hanging up my denim shirt and retiring. As a matter of fact, it's right up there with the parting of the Red Sea.
Our class lion (see The Lion and the Lamb) had the best week of his preschool career. I missed the first day back after spring break, giving myself one more day to recover from a horrible cold. Upon my return, everyone was filling me in on our little lion and how he had the best day ever. I thought to myself, hmmmm, maybe it's me that sets him off. I push him hard in an attempt to make him comply with the class activities, I don't allow him the satisfaction of folding his arms and keeping his distance from what it is we are doing and I continually try to keep him actively engaged with the class routine. So maybe with me out of the picture, he felt more relaxed.
The following day, I decided to keep my distance and observe our lion and to my surprise, the little stick of dynamo was very happy and compliant. He danced and sang, sat with us during snack without a fight, interacted with the other children and not once did he burst out in tears at the drop of a hat. I kept waiting for the bomb to drop but the explosion ever happened.
After preschool, we loaded the children on the bus and sang our 'Good bye children' song. Our little lion clapped along with his friends and even blew us a kiss as we exited the bus.
I was completely astonished and thought, this truly was a day of miracles. I can now hang up my shirt and retire.
I think you would miss the kids to much to retire. You need to wait till you can replace them with grandkids then you will be in heaven :)
ReplyDeleteI totally know those miracle days! They catch us so by surprise in our class too. We have a little one who is totally non verbal and the past week he has been making lots of sounds at circle time and we heard him say two distinct words!
ReplyDeleteI'm excited I found your blog. I used to work at a preschool and before that I worked as a blind-deaf communicator, and then even before that I worked at an institute for special ed. I loved it! Also, my brother has Spina Bifida so I know exactly what you mean about miracles and the things these kids can surprise us with.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do read all my comments! My husband loves massages now too. Guys don't know what they are missing out on until they get pampered, and then they love it.
ReplyDeleteAnd you are a miracle worker! It takes a very special person to work with special needs children.
You are seriously so sweet! Thank you for the compliment.
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