Above and Beyond

Let me tell you about my oldest daughter. She's going to be 16 in a few months. She's a typical teen with typical teen issues. She has Down Syndrome so there have been lots of surprises with her, and worries that we don't have with the other kids. When she went into 5th grade nearly 4 years ago I didn't think she'd make it. She constantly bolted on her teachers, hiding out, sitting under tables in her classroom and all sorts of fun stuff. I seriously thought we'd have to move her to a special school. Her Dad, step Mom, teachers and I were flumoxed. We tried so many things to bring her around, even had a behavioral specialist in once a month.

Over the years she's gotten better. The bolting incidences became fewer and further between. She started making friends with the other girls in her class (she's been mainstreamed for the most part). These friendships really helped her, were incredibly important to her.

When she was in 6th grade she had open heart surgery. Before she went down her friends were giving her stuffed animal dogs (her favorites) to keep her company and sent the entire class (about 60 kids) made her get well cards. They even made her a VHS tape with messages that she could watch while she was in the hospital.

She's about ready to graduate from 8th grade. In the past 2 years she's been on the honor and high honor roll, she works just as hard as every other kid in school, has just been named Student of the Month for the 3rd time (out of all the grades-she has to meet all the same requirements other kids have to meet). Her behavior has been wonderful, she went on the big 8th grade American Heritage Tour to Washington DC. She'll also be presented with a yearbook which is given to students who have gone above and beyond the expectations of their teachers and peers. Yes, everyone can buy one, but its an honor to be presented with one.

I'm one proud mama. She'll be heading to high school next fall and my nerves will be all in a knot again, hoping that she'll dive right in with the enthusiasm she's had the past 3 years and not with the issues she had her first year.

But for now I'll bask in her wonderful achievements.