By Jennifer Richardson
He is sitting and silent. Eyes wide open, watching. He doesn’t speak. He doesn’t engage. For some reason, I am drawn to him. I know he is in there…someplace. I want to know him. I want him to know I am there for him. I have made a goal to talk to him at the beginning and the end of every day. Maybe the smile and the hello will let him know I am there. Maybe he will feel more comfortable with me and will engage. Sometimes he will say hello. Sometimes he just stares with those wide eyes.
Today was a tough day. He was asked to move. Many people. Many requests. Too much, too quickly. I looked at his face. I saw the distress. He was overwhelmed. He was VERY overwhelmed. He left the cafeteria and headed to his classroom. I believe he was looking for the place where he could feel safe. He wasn’t supposed to be beyond those red doors but, I knew he needed that. I opened the door and allowed him to go to his classroom. I praised him for taking care of himself. I helped him get his chair and sit at his spot. I put his breakfast tray in front of him. His face relaxed and he began to eat.
When it was time for me to go back to the cafeteria I said I was glad he felt better. I told him to have a good day and I put my hand up for a high five. He reached up and hit my hand.
HE REACHED UP AND HIT MY HAND! I might have even detected a little smile.
I’m so glad he shared the high five with you. The “high five” gives kids a “safe touch.” Touch is a human need. Without it we literally will die. My son and his wife have adopted four children who lived in hard places, two in orphanages for years with barely any touch. They could not even sit up by themselves. Now, with three years of love … they are making great gains on all levels. One can walk by himself now and the other can walk if he can touch your hand. Our love and kindness can do miracles that last.
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You were his angel in that moment.
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Such a powerful reminder we need to meet kids where THEY are and not where we wish/want them to be. Your patient persistence is a kind of love he probably hasn’t experienced much. Keep doing what you do, Jenn!
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Way to capture a powerful moment and provide a much needed safe space for a kid. It matters!
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Love, love, love. These are the small moments we live to teach for.
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❤ #heartbeeps Loved when you shared how he wasn't supposed to leave the cafe, but needed to so you helped him find his place.
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