Monday, March 13, 2017

Life Lessons

I have a confession to make. A bold, "I'm ashamed to admit this" professional confession. Though I've been in education for twenty-plus years, up until this school year I struggled with my lack of ease in dealing with kids with special needs. Fortunately, I was led to a place where I'd overcome this lack. I literally just stepped out of a classroom and couldn't wait to get to my computer to quickly share my emotions.

Three times a week I am fortunate enough to work on language with these students and I have learned more from them, than they from me, hands down. Their care and kindness towards others is a lesson to us all, as we charge around often feeling overwhelmed or stretched too thin to really notice what matters. The joy reflected in their eyes when they accomplish a task reminds me to slow down and soak up experiences. The connection and joy they emit upon interacting with each other and their teachers is something many of us are too busy to notice throughout the course of our over scheduled days.
Thank you Universe, for bringing me here.


3 comments:

  1. I was raised on State Property as a child and young teenager, where my neighborhood was mentally and physically handicapped residents of the state. They have taught me more about kindness, compassion, and altruism more than any one else i've met. My students who struggle in a similar fashion do the same for me on a daily basis.

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  2. Thank you for sharing your insights! Early on in my teaching career I was nervous to have special needs students in my classroom, but as our special services have been cut back and these students have been unable to qualify for help, I have found more students in the general ed room on a full time basis. My heart is filled with the sweetness and compassion of these wonderful children and seeing the world through their eyes, through their hard work and hard won accomplishments makes one take pause.

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  3. Oh Lydia, this is such a beautiful and honest reflection. "I have learned more from them than they from me" is such a lovely statement.

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