Then. . . (first day of school)
Now. . . (Last day at Messiah)
People always think I am crazy when I say the twins attend two different preschools but, when you see Adeline at Messiah, it is impossible to imagine her anywhere else. I remember calling Messiah's director almost three years ago and asking her if she would allow my developmentally delayed twins to attend the two's program. This involved changing their diapers, allowing their therapists to accompany them and, most burdensome, deal with Adeline's lack of speech and sensory issues. The teachers and I were just recollecting about how they couldn't paint Adeline's hand without holding her down (which of course, they did not do) when she was two. They patiently stuck with her, reached deep into their bag of tricks and have sent countless crafts with hand prints home ever since.
Mrs. Feinstein was one of Adeline's first teachers at Messiah and helped us come full circle by teaching her again this year. Mrs. Feinstein has treated my girl like one of the bunch since day one. She is a constant source of encouragement and tells me that Adeline is holding her own quite often. While I know Adeline hasn't closed the gap entirely, I love hearing Mrs. Feinstein tell me, "You need to stop worrying. She is doing great." What warms my heart even more is that this teacher has stock in Adeline's success. She has INVESTED in my girl.
Just when I didn't think Messiah could give more to Adeline, I met Mrs. Eaton. Mrs. Eaton was Adeline's assistant teacher this year. Mrs. Eaton served as an extension of me. My little girl let would go of my hand to run into her classroom and hop on Mrs. Eaton's lap for her daily dose of loves. Whenever I saw the class move through the hallways, Mrs. Eaton was always holding Adeline's hand. She loved my girl and always gave her a lap to sit on when the kids got to noisy or rough - Miss Adeline can be pretty tender. Mrs. Eaton wore her patience hat each day and took the time to walk slower so that Adeline could keep up, wait longer so that Adeline could attempt to write her name, and gave in all the other ways that meet Adeline's needs which can feel pretty demanding at time.
It is with a sad heart that we close this chapter of our lives. Thank you Messiah for taking the risk and letting my girls through your doors when they didn't make the age cutoff or developmental requirements. It has been instrumental in Adeline's development. Thank you for making me feel that it was risk worth taking!
Here are some clips of Adeline singing at Step Up Day. She really belted it out which allowed me to HEAR her voice. She stuck with the song while most of the other kids sang ahead of the words. (Front row paid off!)
Here she is receiving her certificate. She takes it. . . She shows everyone. . . She gives it one big hug. . . She shows her Mommy and Daddy.
