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........