Taking time to thank those who have worked so hard with our disabled daughter
As my regular readers know we have kept Quincy with her elementary special education team much longer than normal. We started our experience with school slowly, initially taking her for short periods of time just to receive therapy services. It was scary for us to think about leaving her with strangers for six hours a day and we needed to ease our way into it. As it turned out the professionals at Larson Elementary have had an extraordinary impact on Quincy life and ours, in ways they probably will never fully understand.
It seems like just yesterday that I clutched my frail five-year old daughter and forced myself to walk into an unfamiliar school to begin the process of integrating her into public education. Quincy is now 14 and I am again facing the same fears as I lay the groundwork for her to start high school.
Yesterday my husband arranged to speak to the staff and faculty at Larson Elementary during their staff meeting to thank them, personally, for taking such wonderful care of our daughter. It was important for us to do this in a private, personal forum where we could take the time to individually recognize those teachers who have had an impact on us and the lives of each of our children. Teachers have a rather thankless job…they take a great deal of criticism and are rarely thanked for their efforts. Most teachers do their jobs because they love educating children. I know that because in a past lifetime I was a teacher and my husband still is. It is a difficult, complicated, rewarding profession and we believe it is important to express our sincere appreciation to everyone who opened their classrooms and their hearts to Quincy.
We purchased an apple tree as a gift to the school from Quincy. It’s delicate, pink blossoms are a perfect reminder to all of Quincy’s unique blend of beauty, fragility, and strength. I hope they plant the tree somewhere where it will thrive and grow and mature and serve as a reminder to those who work at Larson Elementary just how much they touched our lives.
Quincy’s journey through public education has not been without it’s ups and downs, but it is most marked by an impressive group of people who have spent countless hours celebrating her successes and helping us overcome any obstacles that we faced. I don’t want to sugarcoat our experience, because it has been a lot of work on our part as well as that of the District. And it has required constant advocacy and action. But right now is the time to acknowledge everyone who has done their part to make Quincy’s life a happy place. Battles and stresses and worries will always be around the corner, but this is a milestone in Quincy’s to share with so many wonderful people. This is a time to celebrate!
2 Comments to Taking time to thank those who have worked so hard with our disabled daughter
I hope I did this right and it makes it to you. I am not very computer-wise. I have helped take care of Quincy for two years at Larson Elementary. I have many many feelings in my heart for your daughter and can barely speak of them before my throat constricts with emotion. Please just let me say that it has been an honor to be part of her life. I thank you for that.
TawnyMay 19, 2009
Oh Miss Mary, we love you so much!! Words cannot begin to express how much you mean to my family and our Q. We are so lucky to have you in our lives and hope that you will stay with us for a long, long time!!
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National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC)
May 19, 2009