Making memories one day at a time.......and then I write about it.

Friday, February 13, 2015

A Monumental Moment in the Life of Levi

Valentine's Day.  How does one explain Valentine's Day to a child like Levi.  You don't.  You help him make his little Valentine cards knowing that the concept means nothing to him.  To Levi, it is another party at school where he will get treats.

I found a site on the Internet that makes bug Valentines.  Perfect for Levi!  He might not grasp the concept of Valentine's Day (what elementary kid does??) but he does grasp bugs and they are cool!

A few days ago we sat down and glued bugs onto what looked like a jar printed on card stock.  I wanted to print on the jar:  Happy Valentine's Day!  Now bug off!  Or, Happy Valentine's Day!  Quit bugging me!  The SM didn't think that was a very good idea so we went with the cutesy "Love Bug" saying that was already printed on the jar.  (If you are needing a visual, here is the link to what we made).

Bugs happily glued onto the jars.  Now time to write names on the tops of the Valentines.  Who do you want to give Valentines to Levi besides your teacher and classmates?  The bus driver and bus driver aid.  Swell!  Not a problem.  We carefully write their names on top of their Valentine's.  Levi talks about his bugs for the rest of the week in anticipation of today.

This morning arrives.  Oh happy day!  It's time to get ready for school!  I put Levi's bug Valentine's into a bag for him but leave out the two for his bus driver and aid.  We look at the Valentine's and carefully go over which one he hands to the bus driver and which one he hands to the aid.  Look Levi!   What is your bus driver's name? Yes, that is correct.  What does (insert name) start with?  We say the letter and sound out the letter.  We go through the same with the aid's name.  We do this several times so Levi can see the first letter in their names, know how it sounds, and hand the Valentine's to the correct person.  Over and over we do this so Levi can be successful.

The bus comes.  I stand on the porch and tell Levi to have a good day.  He hesitates.  He doesn't leave the porch.  I look from him to the bus, and then I notice what Levi has already noticed because anything different/change is always on the radar.  The bus driver is different today.  All of that work practicing who to give the Valentine's to!  Argh!!!

I tell Levi it is okay and to give both Valentine's to the aid.  She'll make sure the bus driver gets hers.  It's too much.  It's not what we practiced.  Levi continues to hesitate.  I give him a little prod.  Finally, he walks to his waiting bus.  He holds onto the Valentine's not sure what to do.  Looking out the window now he looks to me in confusion.  What to do?!  It's all changed!  I motion for him to give the Valentine's to the aid.  He looks from me to the aid and back again.  Go ahead Levi.  Everything is going to be okay!

Eventually Levi gives the Valentine's to the aid.  Both of them.  And then he looks back at me.  We do the usual wave and blow kisses goodbye.  As the bus pulls away I give Levi the thumbs up.  You did it!!  You worked through something really hard!  You worked through the unexpected!  You worked through change!  Something that is no big deal to most, was monumental to Levi!  I wish I worked through the unexpected/change/difficulties as well as Levi did this morning........

10 comments:

  1. That makes my heart so happy. You are such an awesome momma!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Donna. Levi's awesomeness makes everyone around him look awesome.

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Made my eyes sweat too and my heart burst a big flutter! This kid amazes me.

      Delete
  3. I find myself feeling more and more like Levi - somehow, the Mother Beast who always knew what to do has grown out the other side and now realizes that she NEVER knows what to do. What is right? What is best? What is better? How to fix it. How to live without fixing it and should I? How to love instead of putting people in order in my head. When to say no. When to say yes. He trusted you, and in the end, he did what you had told him to do, even though it was NOT the right bus driver. I try to trust the Lord that way - and often wish I could see him on the porch, watching me, calling out to me. But most of all, wishing I could see him when he gives me the thumb's up -

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He's always giving you the thumbs up. I promise!

      Delete
  4. Oh, teary here too. I totally get how monumental a moment that was for Levi, and for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was so proud of him. He has been progressing in the last year or so by leaps and bounds. It is awesome to see.

      Delete
  5. You're just the right mom for him . . . that lightens my heart today.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ahhh! Thank you! You just lightened my heart!

    ReplyDelete

Go ahead..you know ya wanna comment!