Awards ?

Sorry that I have not written in a while...the end of the school year can be rather hectic.
A lot has happened since last I wrote. Our oldest son graduated from the 8th grade. At our school, graduating from 8th grade is a BIG DEAL. (I will be posting a pic on the pictures page.) He was so very handsome in his suit and his French Cuff shirt. I was and am extremely proud of his accomplishments. But, I must say that, in my humanity, it was rather difficult to sit there and listen to so many other students receive awards and my own son not. Students that do not have "different abilities", students that at times have ridiculed and belittled my son. I wanted to scream, "This is not fair....this is not right....if they only understood how much he had to overcome to accomplish what he has accomplished....if they only knew him like I know him rather than how he presents himself to the public!!!!" But, it was not to be. Of course, I might have been just a little bit emotional at the time....my uncle had passed away and the funeral was just the day before the graduation.

Then, we had the last week of school. I personally think the last week of school was created so that teachers can make up for their sins.....just kidding. Can you tell that I really don't like the last week of school. It is filled with work and disappointment......realization that not all of your dreams that you had for your students at the beginning of the year came true. What did I do wrong? What can I do differently....... These people share as much time in your life as family members do...and suddenly they are no longer there.

Finally, the last day of school...the awards program for grades 1-7. I sit there and listen once again as MANY names are announced.....but not our middle son's name. At the end of the program, he looked up at me....with those incredibly big brown eyes filled with tears and his lower lip quivering - trying so very hard not to cry - "They forgot to call my name out......"   Yes, that is the sound of my heart breaking.....

Our school is VERY GOOD about acknowledgement....don't get me wrong. It is a FANTASTIC school, I LOVE teaching there and I LOVE that my sons attend! There are just no award categories in which my sons belong. There is no award for the child that, with a lot of work, was able to pass and entire school year WITHOUT A MAJOR MELTDOWN.....or an award for the son that STARTED ACCOMPLISHING HOMEWORK without being asked......or the son that wants to sculpt a statue of THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL with a moneybox attached to collect money for the poor....or an award for the son that wants to build a machine that will clean the pollution out of the air.....or the son that is colorblind but who has made HUGE advancements in art class....or the sons that simply got through the year with passing grades even though they are different.....even though they have challenges.

I know that I sound like a spoiled brat and a cry baby. I promise that this does have a point.

Over the weekend, we watched the movie CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DOWN TREADER. We have read the book series as a family. If you have not read the series, treat yourself and your family this summer. Read it together. They are wonderfully inspirational and the correlations with Christian ideals are so very recognizable. Anyway, there is a line in the movie that is not in the book....I checked....but it is very good. Prince Caspian says,
"I have spent too much time worrying about what has been taken from me rather than recognizing the gifts that have been given to me."
I think that is where I am now. I need to recognize the gifts that have been given to me and rejoice in them....rather than mourn symbols of recognition that will fade in time. It is up to me to show the boys their accomplishments....to recognize them....and to rejoice in them.