Goodbye

"A black-haired little girl with a joyful grin,

Lights up the room as she walks in.

Proudly standing, O Canada she sings,

Thinking about her favourite things.

Nail polish, lip gloss, clickity shoes,

Boy whales, girl whales, Miss W's whales too.

Excited about the day ahead,

She soon checks to see what she has read.

'Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?'

Her favourite storybook she rhymes off with glee!

Quickly her thoughts turn to that magic hour (9:30)

When new toilets, especially white toilets, have all the power.

Flush, flush, flushing we go, 'Don't waste the water...no, no, no.'

Finally, ready to work with all her might,

Enthusiastically she perseveres until she gets it right.

A black -haired little girl with a joyful grin,

Lights up the room as she walks in."

(I wrote this poem about "S", my student with autism, when she was in grade 4, December,2004)

("S's" Grade 8 Graduation, June 18, 2009. Photo posted with permission from "S's" parents )

That black -haired little girl with that joyful grin is now a black-haired beautiful young woman about to light up the halls of high school.

I can hardly believe it was 6 years ago when I first began working with this precious student who had autism. She could barely make a sentence that would make any sense to the average person, always echoing what you asked. This wonderful girl taught me so much through the years about life. God used this precious girl to teach me so many valuable lessons that drew me closer to Him and taught me more of His character. (One example I wrote about here Seeing her blossom into a high-functioning young woman, able to communicate effectively with the world around her, has been an amazing journey! She now can talk up a storm and converse with anyone. (She even has a Facebook account and chats regularly with her friends!) One would barely know anything was "wrong" with "S" if one met her on the street.

Yet, my heart broke for this young woman a few days before graduation. I was asked to drive "S" to her new high school in order that she could participate in the end of the year party with her new class. I must interject here and tell you that "S" has been integrated into mainstream classrooms all her school life. The new class she will be involved with at the high school is a special ed. class, with some integration into the mainstream. She is not able to communicate with any students in that class, unless the four new students coming in September are high-functioning. Thankfully, the teachers and EA's are wonderful people!

The disturbing part for me: The story unfolding behind "S" 's eyes.

"S" 's eyes were filled with heartache. She knew something wasn't right. It was almost unbearable to see the intense sadness in those big, beautiful brown eyes. We are not used to seeing sadness but rather joy and peace. "S" politely participated in some of the activities but was constantly looking out the door of the classroom into the Student Services Department where she saw many former schoolmates. She smiled, waved and where possible, chatted with these former school mates. Eventually "S" asked me if we could leave - 2 hours earlier than planned. I complied because I knew it was too much for her to take in at once.

As we silently drove away, my heart was weeping for this precious young woman. September will be a huge culture shock. However, she will survive. She is a fighter and will make the most of her situation. She will light up each classroom and influence the lives of those teachers and students lucky enough to know her! "S" 's peace will radiate incessantly!

I will miss my sweet "S" but will NEVER forget her magical, joyful grin!

(PS Thankfully "S" 's parents have asked that we stay in touch! YAY!)

"Peace 'S' "

-painted with parental permission by S.D., my best friend, from a photo I took of "S" in the staff room of my school -February, 2009

Long overdue for a good Yarn!

Time to amuse you, my bloggy friends, with a few of my student yarns I stowed away for a rainy day. Actually, it isn't raining here in my neck of the woods. In fact, it is a gorgeous, warm, "sunny-with -a-few-clouds-put-on-the-air-conditioner" kind of day. Long overdue I might add!


Thursday was a "feel-like-dressing-up-for-work-knowing-full-well-my-clothes-may-be-ripped-and-pulled-by-my-student-and-knowing-full-well-I-may-have-to-run-after-him" kind of day. Alas, I risked it all for the sake of fashion! I even wore dangling accessories! I felt glorious. The day went off without a hitch until.....

....the last period of the day in the grade 3 classroom. My lovely $2.oo yellow shoes had started to hurt my squished feet. In fact, I was beginning to get a blister at the start of the toe area. But I knew the end of the day was in sight when I could kick off my heels and breathe a sigh of relief. As I was sitting helping my student "Q" (the boy who has autism), his seat partner asked me in a very practical and polite manner,

" Miss W, do those shoes hurt?" Smiling I looked at him and said, "YES!" Without missing a beat and still using his practical and polite tone, he concluded, "then why are you wearing them?" He turned away and got back to work. What more could I say! One day he may understand why women put themselves through torture for the sake of fashion. Then again, he probably never will never understand the mind of a woman!! He's learning young!

Two weeks prior to this conversation, I had an interesting dialogue with "Q" about a skin tag that has suddenly formed on my inside right arm. Part of the aging process! Yippee! Anyhoo...

...Horrified, "Q" looked at me behind his horned rimmed glasses and yelled,
" Miss W, you have a GIANT pimple on your arm."

"Oh that," I said. "It's called a skin tag."

From that moment on, EVERYDAY "Q" seeks me out and asks in a concerned tone, "Miss W, how is your skin tag doing today?"
Thanks "Q" for drawing attention to this embarrassing piece of skin on my arm!!

"Q" is a cutie and there is never a dull moment when he is around. In fact, around the same time as the skin tag conversation, "Q" and his grade 3 classmates were embarking on writing the "dreaded" EQAO test. EQAO is a government, standardized test that takes place every year for grade 3, grade 6, and grade 10 students in Ontario. The students work hard in preparation for this 3-day testing, including "Q." He was allowed to have his work modified but his parents wanted him to keep up with the rest of the class. I totally respect that and am not in any way criticising their decision. But, it was difficult for "Q" to keep up. His poor little brain was in overdrive and you could see the strain on his face. So one day when I came to his class he greeted me with these words:

"Miss W, I have decided that I am going to run away to the circus. I have made up my mind."

"Why?"

"Because I want to run away from "V.F." I am tired of all this work. I have decided. But Miss W, I want you to know that you have always been so kind to me."

How cute is that?!!:) I loved his creative way of dealing with the stress of the situation! I am grateful he uses his words instead of being physically aggressive like some of my students who have autism!! I think I convinced him that being in the circus involves a lot of hard work too! Phew! He decided to stay put for now! We would surely miss him if he did run away to the circus. I think I would have to join him!

Well that is all for now folks. I am trying to catch up on all your blogs now. I may not have time to comment on all blogs but will soon.

I hope sometime during the course of your day you can share some yarns with those around you. Laughter is medicine to the soul!

18 Days

I have been busy the last month or so and haven't been able to blog as much as I wanted. Being a visual person, I thought you might enjoy yet another photo journey of my latest adventures in order to keep you up to date!

Square Dance 4oth Birthday Party Celebration...

...these boots are made for walk'in...

...the birthday boy and his wife...

...lov'in the square dance...

...cowgirl...

...Canadian Mountie watching over the festivities, keeping us in order!!



I was asked by a couple at my church to look after their foster teenage daughter for 10 days. I accepted this "challenge" and surprisingly had a GREAT time with only a few minor glitches!! One night I went for a walk in their neighbourhood, an older part of Oshawa with grand older homes and discovered this back alley. I never knew Oshawa had a back alley. I believe it is the only one of its kind.

I treated this foster teenager to a day in the big city of Toronto...first stop...Kensington Market...

Next stop...Chinatown...

Sad to say goodbye to my teenage charge, I welcomed my cousins from Northern Ireland for a 3 week visit...One of our touring adventures took us to this lovely new winery east of my home...




...lunch on the patio...

...yummy!

Cheers!

...we even had a tour of their cellars...

...and a taste of their wines...

On our way home we stopped in Coburg for a walk along the boardwalk on Lake Ontario. Once again, I was pleasantly surprised discovering this gem of a waterfront...

A moose on the "hoose"???? On our way to Mount Pleasant Cemetery to view my cousin's ancestors, we came across this interesting lawn decoration downtown Toronto!

All good things must come to an end. Saying our final goodbyes at the airport!

Now, I can finally put my feet up and relax...well, officially in 18 days!

School's Out for Summer! YAY!