MO's

Yesterday was a wonderful, wonderful day in the life of our family.  It is the simple little things that are often the most important, and are also very often overlooked as Momentous Ocassions that should be well marked.  Well, the blog is our place to mark those MO's :-)

We are in the midst of the annual state testing the kids have to take, as you all know, and Kenny and Angela already had the  experience of having a little guy in their group start crying during the tests because of the stress caused by viewing himself as a failure.  Kenny comforted him saying he too had challenges and the reading part would be where he would probably cry!

Picking up Kenny yesterday was such a delight...he was literally bouncing up and down as he waited for me, broad grin spread across his face.  "Mommy, Mommy!!!  Guess what?  The test was EASY this year!!!  I can't believe how EASY it was!!!  Last year was SO HARD but this year I can really, really read and it didn't take me forever!"  then he added, totally melting my heart "Thank you so much, Mommy!  You promised me I wasn't stupid and that somehow you would get me to read by the time I graduated.  Well I can read NOW and don't have to wait until graduation and it is all because of you!"

That alone made all the sleepless nights of research worth it.  My son, who formerly thought he was "stupid" now sees his intelligence.  My son, who could barely read at 1st grade level now sees himself as a successful reader taking a 4th grade test.  While we are not out of the woods yet by far, we can finally see the meadow ahead through the low laying branches. Kenny will struggle the rest of his life with certain issues, he will have to find work arounds, coping strategies, and may never spell worth a hoot. 

But maybe he will no longer view himself as "special needs", instead, from now on, he just might see himself as we do..."special".