My admiration for J1's school is great at the best of times, but none more so than whenever they do the same as every other school and put on displays, activities and shows.
Within this fantastic special needs school they are already dealing with a whole host of extra 'pupil needs'. So where they find the time to organise, practise and execute Easter events, Summers Fairs, Christmas Fairs, Christmas shows to name but a few, is just inspiring to me.
Every day I am in awe of the dedication staff, assistants and volunteers have to help our children. But at this time of the year, when they ensure that those children experience what every other child in every other school in the country are doing I am blown away.
Our annual invitation to the School Christmas Show came last week. We asked J1 what he was doing in the school play and his response 'It's a secret, I not telling.' All we knew is that we had to send in a funky hat, scarf and gloves for him.
Wonderfully the school hall was packed out with happy, expectant and 'already bursting with pride' parents. The theme of the show was Christmas Movies. With everything ranging from The Wizard of Oz to Elf, the individual classes performed dances, songs, little skits and gave us some unplanned comedy.
Watching the children, adorned in outfits, including some fantastic wheelchair incorporated ones (believe me - I was open mouthed at how wonderful The Tin Man looked in his chair and mentally made a note for next years Halloween costume) was both heartwarming and tear-jerking.
The great thing this year, J1 did not have a meltdown at the door of the hall resulting in him being whisked back to class. He coped with all the noise and unfamiliarity and actually performed! I will never watch The Snowman without thinking of his class performance again.
As the audience clapped and cheered and encouraged I was reminded of how lucky we are, that J1 is at school and involved. That we can attend all of these wonderful activities like we will for J2 when he starts school. Too many of my mummy friends are not in this position, and at this time of the year we should think about them, and how they are feeling. We should think about all of the amazing children that are going to be spending Christmas in hospitals.
We should really appreciate what we have.
I agree. My 1 year old cat Abby has taught me to appreciate the small things in life. She has also changed my life completely.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog on Premmeditations blog roll and popped over to have a look.
*I meant daughter*.
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