Charlie’s last day of school was yesterday. The best part of the end of the year (for me) is the beautiful memory book that his teacher and aides put together for the parents. There’s a page of pictures for each month and a piece of artwork as well. Most of the artwork is done using the children’s hand prints, which I’m sure also provides them with great sensory input–pretty sure Charlie hates all that input (insert evil mom cackle).

Not from school--just a gratuitous picture of my spawn.

The pictures show Charlie doing all kinds of things–brushing his teeth, wearing a Dr. Seuss hat, sitting in the sandbox with other preschoolers, his feet in the grass, sitting in a bounce house with his teacher–the list just goes on and on.

I’ve taught before and I know just how draining it can be. I know how easily one can slide into complacency and how you have to actively shake yourself to stay your best. I look at these pictures of my boy–engaged in play, making faces at new experiences, smiling in the crowd–and I am humbled by the work his teachers have done. And weepy.

We have been so blessed. It’s easy, I think, as a special needs parent, to focus on what’s wrong with the system. We focus on what our child isn’t getting or the next hurdle we have to leap over. I’m guilty of it too as my mind recently has been occupied with trying to figure out what will happen to Charlie once he leaves Early Intervention (that thought makes me weepy too).

Tonight, however, I’m letting myself be happy–my boy has been treated so well. He has seen so much and been involved with school in ways I could have never imagined.

And now I’m weepy again.

End of the year gift for Charlie's teacher and aides.