The insights just keep on coming! Today I've been thinking about myself and who I am and how this impacts Baby J. I am a woman, a wife, a mother. I will soon be a Nana. I am a college math professor. I am a perfectionist and an introvert. I process slowly. I love to read. I'm not good at any organized sports. I'm completely at home in the water and love to swim. I don't like crowds. I like silence because it never really is. I like to travel. I have terrible spatial sense, and I get super frustrated when things change on the computer. I hate discussing politics or religion. I love to think about religion. I hate to think about politics. All of these things and many more make up who I am. My conclusion? Baby J. is and will be so much more than his Down syndrome. That represents just one tiny little chromosome of his make-up and who he will become. So today I am putting it all in perspective and really focusing on just one thing--I am going to be Nana to a very amazing little guy! And I can't wait!!!
This is going to be a long post, so fair warning. In the past 24 hours two seemingly unrelated events came together for me to experience a “big enlightenment.” In fact, it was so big I had to share. It began in a meeting for a college organization that I have facilitated for the past two years - a wonderful group of master teachers who share strategies for engaging students in the learning process. We watched a TEDx talk by professor John Boyer from Virginia Tech. (If you can find 14.49 minutes in your busy day I strongly recommend you watch.) His delivery style made me uncomfortable. His words inspired me. The second event happened last night. My daughter shared some more pictures of Wes. I’m sharing one of those here. This set of pictures affected me like none before. And that’s when I had the big enlightenment. Bear with me please. John Boyer speaks of inspiration and how we have lost that ingredient of education through the constant focus on standardization of learning objectives...
so true. such a positive and real way of thinking of him as a whole person made of several different pieces. just like everyone!
ReplyDeletewhen i read your words or reflect upon them later the words positive and honest and lovely come to mind. you are going to be a wonderful nana! you already are. baby j is one lucky baby :)