Dear Addie,
Your school year is winding down and we could not be more pleased with the progress you have made! All this amazing progress is in large part to the outstanding, and dedicated teacher and assistants that you had this year!
They are awesome!
Teachers don't receive nearly enough credit (or pay) for all they do. They work tirelessly, often many hours at home cutting into their personal family time to provide everything our children need to succeed in this world. There simply are no words to express our sincere gratitude for them taking on this important role in our children's lives.
There are those teachers that kids rave about, and the ones that are lucky enough to see siblings through out the years. Then there are those teachers (and assistances too) that fly under the radar and perhaps aren't as well known to most children and parents within the school. Their classroom size is significantly smaller and the odds of siblings passing through is usually slim. These teachers have chosen a little bit of a different path then that of their peers. While academic success is the goal for all teachers, their path is adorned with windmills and tulips rather than the epic sight of the leaning tower of Pisa.
Let me explain.
One of my absolute favorite poems is called Welcome To Holland by Emily Kingsley. In short, it talks about what it's like to have a special needs child. Comparing it to waiting your whole life to go to Italy and when the time finally arrives, you get off the plane only to find yourself in Holland - unfamiliar with the language and everything around you. Confusion sets in as to why you've landed here instead. You soon realize that it may not be Italy, but it still has extraordinary beauty that is worth seeing. Your teacher willingly chose the path to Holland.
I still remember the first day we met our beloved Miss Annie. It was Meet The Teacher night at the brand new Oakview Elementary. I walked in and immediately scanned the room. It was beautiful - all freshly painted and orderly. You could've destroyed it in a hot second no doubt!
Standing in awe, I regained focus when a voice said "Hello there, I'm Miss Annie!" There stood this beautiful, young woman smiling in front of me. She looked so sweet. I immediately felt bad for the future screaming that you may direct at her. I was nervous, I'm sure she was to. We introduced ourselves and she showed us around the room. The structure was similar to last year but this room had a certain new, clean feel. Not sure if we've ever been in a class where we got "the new stuff!" It was really nice!
You had your very own desk and schedule to follow. We weren't in preschool anymore baby girl, this was big kid school! I remember leaving thinking Miss Annie was awfully nice and extremely well organized, but I couldn't help but still feel uneasy. I was essentially giving her my heart to care for and I knew it would be no easy task.
For you my love, communication is a struggle. There's no specific guide I was following to raise you, so what was I to tell her? How was I to prepare her for you? You love shapes, colors, and numbers. But...don't like when someone blows their nose (or they may suffer the wrath of your Mike Tyson right hook!). Shoes and socks are a suggestion, and any opportunity to escape (to chase leaves or butterflies) is sure to keep her up late at night researching "how to child proof a classroom door while staying within fire code regulations!?"
Most teachers tend to keep a pretty distinct line between parent teacher relationships, but inevitably the line will blur a bit, because it needs to for your best interest. She will start to recognize if daddy's out of town or sister and brother had the day off of school, just simply by your mood and the disruption those things bring to your day to day structure. She quickly learned your mannerisms, sensory issues, strengths and challenges.
She's crawled under tables to be with you on a bad day, I'm sure taken a punch or kick once or twice (maybe more), been screamed at, cried to, drooled on, but she's also seen you grow academically and in many other ways not measured through traditional means. She has witnessed you learn remorse for naughty behavior and seen you express pride when you've done a good job. She's taught you many new things, and watched you overcome challenges...rejoicing right along side you every step of the way!
You see Addie, when you learn something new everybody wins! Everyone is proud of you! Because we know you fought hard to do so, so it's just that much sweeter.
So as we close this chapter and begin a new one, we will be forever grateful that Miss Annie chose the journey she did. She chose Holland, and in Holland she met you.
I love you, Mom
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