State: live free or die
Country: USA
Member since: Jan 12, 2008
Last logged in: Nov 27, 2008
I get to write this a second time - the first one didn't stick - maybe for good reason. I have been a teacher for thirty years. I have taught in inner cities, suburban areas, and rural communities. I have been a Reading Recovery Specialist, ESL, bilingual, and regular ed. classroom teacher. I have spent 20 years in kindergarten, and 12 of those designing a three and four year old curriculum. There's not much about play dough, or bodily fluids that I don't know. Four years ago Bud and his mom, May, came into my classroom. I have had children on the spectrum for years, more towards the Asperger end, but not someone like Bud. It was love at first sight. I love all my kids - but Bud was someone with whom I felt a connection - as was his mom. Since then, I have gone down this path of autism. Since that year, I have had 6 more children on the very wide range of the spectrum. I am working my hardest to try to "get it" and develop the best program and practices I can within our public school. I am fortunate to have an amazingly supportive special education team at work. I am, however, leaving teaching at the end of this year to pursue my passion. I never did get that Master's degree right out of college, because I was either having children of my own (4 of them), or happily teaching and waiting to see what my passion - my "special purpose" (think Steve Martin) would be. He, Bud - not Steve - walked in my room four years ago...actually, we had it planned that he would walk BY it many times over the summer to see me and the room in a variety of stages until he was ready to cross that threshold for the first time - albeit VERY briefly, and go IN. My passion: I have been attending a variety of workshops for the past two years, and have narrowed myself for the time being to get certified in RDI, as well as go through the SCERTS model in more depth. These two protocols make sense to me at the moment. My goal is to "bring it to the masses" - back to the classrooms to help others "get it"...and to work with these kids - these great kids. That's me - "There are lives I can imagine without children but none of them have the same laughter & noise." (Story People)
Favorite Compositions (0)
Mrs.H.'s Compositions
by Mrs.H. on 01.31.08 - public - 126 visits
I’m at the airport. It is a busy afternoon, but I’m traveling on my own – good book in hand. As I open to find the last dog-eared page – I hear it long before I see it. It could be the sound of a machine grinding, whirring, and attempting to engage. It could be the sound of an injured bird – protesting being stuffed into an uncomfortable cage. No, no – it’s someone crying.
The sound comes closer, and closer until it is right behind me – and I smile, because I know exactly what it is. It’s a boy, around four, who is clearly disregulated, and scripting loudly, frenetically and at a decibel only known to the lucky. He is peppering the scripts with requests for things that are just not possible. It’s this little guy, his mom, and the stares of neighboring waiting passengers. The looks are of astonishment at what they perceive to be a tantrum out of control.
In soothing, nonchalant tones mom continues to get what needs to get done, and they arrange themselves in the seat right behind mine. I hear mom ask, “Are you ready?’ The teary, almost relieved voice says yes… then there is quiet. I am thinking as quickly as I can, what could possibly be happening behind me. The looks of the others have now changed to a different kind of incredulous. I have to look. I smile again. Little guy is happily upside down on the chair – head down on the seat. Mom is holding his legs and feet in the air, as they both happily take in their surroundings. “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do” - life is good for a moment. The people around don’t know about joint compression, or rhythmic stimulation, or parenting an autistic child in a clearly anxiety provoking situation. But in my mind – mom is a champ. Her eyes are on her little guy only, and the bliss is short lived. “I have to go potty,” he says. She helps him back up, gathers all the gear, the scripting begins, and they head towards the women’s room.
I know the rest of the passengers are hoping that when she returns, she does not choose the seat next to them on the plane. As for me, I hope they do…I’ll take turns holding him up.
Comments(3)
Motherof4
Posted on Wed, 30 Jan 2008
Wish I had met you when Daniel was little! Understanding can be hard to come by. Thank you for understanding that mom and her son.
4muskateers
Posted on Wed, 30 Jan 2008
What a wonderful experience for you, and what a way to see one of us in action. I would love to sit next to her also. Casper's cards tohand out would have generated much need understanding.
carmel66
Posted on Wed, 30 Jan 2008
Great story. I love to see other families with kiddos on the spectrum traveling. It's usually hard and we barely have time to do more than nod to each other but it's good to see us out and about.
