This morning the 4th grade at my daughter's school had a recorder concert. You remember those from your elementary school days? I remember mine...let's just leave it at that!
Every year each grade does a concert. I have to be completely honest and say I didn't know why my daughter was taking part in this. Up on stage.
She can not hold the instrument. She can not play the instrument. She doesn't want it near her mouth. Why was she going to all the practices and standing up on stage for the performance? It didn't make sense to me.
Until today.
She wanted to be like her peers. She wanted to listen and watch her peers. She wanted to try. She wanted to have fun.
before they started playing
She was smiling and dancing...swaying back and forth as her friends played the music. It was as if they were playing for her. And she didn't care she wasn't playing the recorder. In all honesty, she probably was thinking to herself she got the better deal! I tend to agree with her!
The best part was her teaching assistant, her "Anne Sullivan", and how she supported her in this concert. Not just physically in case she fell over due to her balance issues right now, but I mean emotionally too. She wanted this to be a fun experience for her, not something she dreaded. Her "Anne Sullivan" really wanted to see if she would try blowing into the recorder herself, but needed to find a way to get her to put her mouth on the instrument...as she didn't even want to do that. So she decided to put marshmallow fluff on it as she she loves marshmallows. Guess what? It worked a little bit, but not much. The funnier part was after she had the recorder to her lips, her lips would then be a little white from the fluff! My good friend who I was sitting next to and I would motion to "Anne Sullivan" to let her know to wipe her lips off! It was really sweet how tried to think of ways to get my daughter to want to try. And she did try...and that is all we can ask of her.
If you had never met my daughter and "Anne Sullivan" before today, it would be safe to say you witnessed an amazing connection between to people. You can see it in their eyes, in the way they speak to each other (words and no words), in their movements, in every step they take. My daughter was having the time of her life up on stage...doing what she felt comfortable doing....with her peers and she didn't care what anyone thought. And "Anne Sullivan" was there every step of the way giving her all the support she needed.
Seeing her smile and her dance on stage made me realize....this is what it is all about. Having fun and not caring what others think. Being proud of who you are and what you are trying to do. My daughter was definitely proud of herself today....and I was too!
Here is a quote for today...
Take pride in how far you have come and have faith in how far you will go- Author Unknown
notice the white "fluff" lips?
starting to swing back and forth...her dancing
loves watching her friends
© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved
365 Days Gift
No comments:
Post a Comment