100 Years From Now

Throughout my adult life I have worked exclusively with children - I have been a preschool teacher, a daycare director, a nursery caregiver, an in-home care provider, and a nanny. In all my years I have always been drawn towards the more difficult children, usually boys, and I embrace the challenge with open arms. Who knows - maybe that's how I was blessed with the Little Man, and all his...glory.

A few weeks ago I, again, became a preschool teacher. I did not enter in to this new endeavor lightly, it involved leaving a part-time position for full-time and putting the Little Man in to childcare. I am quickly realizing that this position came to me for more reasons than just my own.

My first day at work I met a young boy. Being introduced to all of the children, they left him for last; and it was obvious, in my first five minutes, that he was not your run-of-the-mill, happy-go-lucky preschooler. This boy is a handful, I met him in a 3's class, he is almost 5. The teacher in his age group can not handle him so they moved him back.

As I filled in for another teacher, I took my place following him around so that I could intervene if he got out of control. I felt as though I was constantly putting out fires - "We don't throw blocks.", "Your feet belong on the floor.", "You need to share the toy.", "Walking feet in the classroom."...you get the idea.

The moment we met, something connected between the two of us. I saw so much of my son in this little boy. He needed to be in an environment where he could succeed rather than be forced to live behind the label of 'the bad kid'. My sons disabilities have given me the opportunity to learn new skills in approaching challenging children. I have learned that children express their emotions through their behavior, because it's the only way they know how. I did the unthinkable, in the eyes of the other teachers that is, and I asked for him to be in my class.

The first day with him was hard, there's no getting around it. I spent 15 minutes attempting to get him to join circle or do a table game - he played, loudly, in home living instead. During nap time he kicked the wall, then the floor, and he talked - loudly. He defied every rule and pushed every button and I tried my hardest to not set separate rules for him than for the rest of the class.

The next day, Tuesday, we took a new approach - every 30 minutes he could earn a smiley face for participating and following directions. I don't think he earned any smiley faces that day; I was beginning to get discouraged but instead I persevered.

Each day was a little better, not perfect, but baby steps. Friday he sat through 1 1/2 circle times, he participated in group, he cut with scissors even though he said he couldn't, he wrote the first letter of his name - Monday he couldn't hold the pencil correctly, and he got ALL of his smiley faces! I have learned that he yearns to please, that he loves to give hugs, and he can clean a mess better than any other child in the class. He has an amazing smile, his laugh is infectious, and most importantly - he just wants to be liked by everyone around him.

Maybe I am giving myself too much credit, but I hope that I am making a difference in this sweet little boy's life.

One Hundred Years From Now

By Forest Witcraft, "Within My Power"

One hundred years from now,

it will not matter what kind of car I drove,

what kind of house I lived in,

how much was in my bank account,

nor what my clothes looked like.

But the world may be a little better

because I was important in

the life of a child.