My dishwasher's possessed

one mom's attempt to find humor in the chaos

My Daughter My Teacher

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I didn’t know what to expect the other day when we were touring our daughter Lizzy’s new school.

This was a “special” school for children with disabilities so severe that the district school could no longer teach them.

Lizzy hasn’t been learning all year. Her teacher has told us that she frequently “leaves” by getting lost in her imagination. Some days she insists she’s a princess. Other days she’s in frogland. Then there are days she just says nothing.

The tests say her IQ has declined.

I knew the day would come when our district would no longer work for her, so it’s not as if I was shocked. I just hoped it wouldn’t be for a few more years.

Now I was touring a new school with my daughter and mother, and as we entered a classroom,
Lizzy looked at the teacher in the middle of the room and the children listening to her. She walked right up to an empty chair and sat down.

The teacher handed her a sheet with words for the song the class was singing, and she started to sing along.

Another little girl lit up as soon as she saw Lizzy and asked if she could sit next to her.

My daughter sat in the middle of the class and looked as if she completely belonged.

My mom started to cry.

The program director was thrilled and kidded that we were going to have a hard time getting her to leave.

From the time Lizzy was six weeks old, I’d been concerned about her development. Despite all the doctors, therapists, and teachers we’ve seen, no one has been able to clearly diagnose my daughter’s condition.  

While I’ve given up hope of getting a permanent answer for what ails my daughter, I’ve learned to take some comfort in the small victories. Here was another example where my daughter’s adaptability provided the answer all of us needed.





Comments

  2. Lisa Gradess Weinstein says

    Lizzy somehow sensed that she belonged in this world! It is my hope and dream for you Kathy that your daughter’s beauty and love will be nourished in this environment and she will thrive! All the best, Lisa

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Thanks so much Lisa! Lizzy has always had a sense of what is right for her. She just knew this was the right school for her. I look forward to seeing her thrive, she so deserves it! Thanks for the encouragement, it always means so much to me! xx

  3. Becky Jane says

    Lizzy has an amazing spirit. Small victories are huge when it comes mama hearts and grandma hearts. I still remember the fantastic feeling I got when we did the Portrait of a Hero post on you and your kids!

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Becky thank you so much for your support and love! My kids loved the Portrait of Hero you did on us!! I was glad my mom could see how happy she was, grandmas have a double burden, seeing their grandchildren go through so much and seeing their own children deal with so much as well. Thank you for always reminding me of that!!! Much love to you!!

  5. Chris Dean says

    I am THRILLED she found a place she feels comfortable. It’s so hard for us Mothers to watch our children struggle in any area, but I think the hardest is watching them feel like they’re “outsiders” or like they don’t belong.
    I can only imagine how your heart must have swollen watching her. It’s a GOOD feeling. Thank you for sharing that. *hugs*

    • Kathy Radigan says

      Thank you so much Chris!! You are so right, it’s hard knowing that are children are know they don’t belong. I’m so happy that we found a place she felt at home. It’s been great to see how happy she is about starting her new school on Thursday! Hugs to you!

  6. Joy Page Manuel says

    So happy for you guys, Kathy! Victories, big and small, all count. Let me share with you a quote that a very good friend of mine shared with me recently. I hope it would bring you encouragement the way it did to me: “It is only possible to live happily ever after on a day-to-day basis” by Margaret Bonnano

  10. Pam List says

    When I teach I ask my students to find where their sticky dot should go. Their sticky dot is where they sit to listen and learn or when we need to calm down from activities. They are so comforted to know they are empowered to find their own place by choice.
    It looks as if she has found her sticky dot. And i know in my heart there will be many more sticky dots. Some she will choose and some you will choose, but your hearts will choose together.
    Now pass me a tissue and some chocolate.

  11. Kathy Radigan says

    Pam thank you so much for dropping by! I LOVE your “sticky dot” what a great idea!!!! On my best days I trust that there will be a lot of sticky dots in her future, on my harder days it is very nice to read beautiful comments like yours to get me to the next place!!! xoxo

Much thanks to Joseph Radigan, who besides being a great husband and father, also uses his talents to gently and ever so tactfully edit my blog. Joe is a business editor at Thomson Reuters in NY.
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