Sixth Grade Graduation.

Nine years ago, Curtis began is sojourn through education in a classroom of peers.

I couldn't find a picture from Fall of '02. This is Fall of '03. He's 4 years old.

To say that he has "....come a long way, baby!" would be a huge understatement. The social/emotional/behavioral growth that he has achieved over the last nine years is breath taking.

I've been spending much of my time, lately, thinking about this child that I call "My wish come true.", "My Eldest", "My Firstborn". This is the child that I dreamed about from the time that I understood that I would someday be a Mommy. This is the child that will/has receive(d) the blunt force of my learning to parent. This is the child that I do/will ask to grow up quicker than he should. This is the child who is NOT neruo-typical. This is the child that has taught me that it is MY responsibility to be their champion. This is the child that is quickly turning into a young man.

Curtis is unique, smart, snarky, loving, sensitive and sometimes a major PITA. My mantra, through these years, has been "He'll be a dynamic adult." His quirkiness will bode well as he becomes an adult. Yet, it is up to his family and community to help guide him along the way.

The Montessori community has been an outstanding fit for Curtis. He has learned many coping skills and been surrounded by teachers and students that give him the space he needs and gently encourages him to cross his very rigid boundaries. They have been his lifeline, whether or not he realizes it.

In September he will be entering a new and strange environment. Middle School. Standard, public Middle School. I am in the process of creating a welcoming environment for him there. Working with his new counselor to help him adapt and learn to navigate the gigantic changes he has ahead.

This is the poem that his teacher, that he's had for the last three years, wrote for the graduation ceremony, to Curtis:

This was taken while Mrs Bowman was reciting Curtis' poem. The glance between us when she read the line "We witness your growth/In body". 

Part of the ceremony is for every student to read a letter that they have composed in advance, to their teacher. As we got closer and closer to Curtis' turn, I began to wonder what was going to come out of his mouth. Writing something like this is NOT his cup of tea. It was not a required writing. There was not to be a consequence if he did not write it. True to form, he had not written anything. Yet.....

Curtis stepped up to the mic and very bluntly stated that he had not written or prepared anything in advance. He announced that he was going to "wing" it. He proceeded to state that he had really enjoyed his years at Jefferson and his teachers. He got a little tongue tied in trying to explain his feelings/emotions. He stated: "I just can't explain it. In the words of Albert Einstein, 'If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.' I can't explain it, I don't understand it." He floored everyone, especially myself. Curtis is not only going to be a dynamic adult, he simply is dynamic.

I love this kid from the very depths of my soul. He is "My dream come true.". 

Here's to beginning an entirely new chapter in his and our lives. 

~Mindi

Momcologist