It took us all a little time to settle into the desert. As a mother, I didn't really know what to expect from my children. I knew it would be stressful to leave our home in Colorado, our friends, and our school. As I look back, I am still surprised at everyone's different reactions. Especially, my oldest son Gabriel, who is passionate, loving and full of emotion in everything he does.
Things for him started off pretty rocky at school. The stress of the move came out in the classroom as disruptive behavior. He had a teacher who didn't understand him or what he was going through and a mom and dad who didn't understand his reactions. He struggled to find his place.
Weeks went by and negative reports kept coming home from school. His grades were failing and disruptive classroom behavior continued.
Bryan and I worried. We tried to help him by coming up with solutions. We hired tutors. We worked extra hours with him on homework. We grounded him and yelled at him to get his act together. We just knew how smart and capable he was and it was hard to watch him struggle.
Gabriel needed time. Time to find his own way. The weeks turned into months and things started to change as Gabriel started to feel comfortable in school. His grades started improving and he started flourishing in the classroom. His teacher that used to stop me after school to tell me something negative, started stopping me to say something positive. I could see the confidence in his eyes return. It was an amazing transformation.
In the last 6 months, my son has found his place. He has overcome. He is stronger and better and more confident.
The day his teacher came up to me after school to tell me that Gabriel would be "The Student of the Month", I was shocked. I cried as I walked my children home from school that day thinking about how far we have all come.
This was a proud moment. The day he received his medal.
I thought about my son and how much he is growing. How this experience made him into a more capable young man. He courageously persevered above his circumstances and then exceeded those expectations.
Gabriel's teacher said it best during the ceremony. She said "Gabriel has shown tremendous growth this year academically and personally. He is such a smart student who makes friends easily." Both Bryan and I are so very proud of him.
My tendency as a mother is to make everything easy for my children. I go to great lengths to ensure comfort and ease in their life. Yet, when I am able to watch them persevere through something difficult, I am reminded what being a parent is all about. Not just to make everything easy and comfortable, but to help guide, encourage, and love. Standing by as they figure this world out on their own and make their own place in it.
Things for him started off pretty rocky at school. The stress of the move came out in the classroom as disruptive behavior. He had a teacher who didn't understand him or what he was going through and a mom and dad who didn't understand his reactions. He struggled to find his place.
Weeks went by and negative reports kept coming home from school. His grades were failing and disruptive classroom behavior continued.
Bryan and I worried. We tried to help him by coming up with solutions. We hired tutors. We worked extra hours with him on homework. We grounded him and yelled at him to get his act together. We just knew how smart and capable he was and it was hard to watch him struggle.
Gabriel needed time. Time to find his own way. The weeks turned into months and things started to change as Gabriel started to feel comfortable in school. His grades started improving and he started flourishing in the classroom. His teacher that used to stop me after school to tell me something negative, started stopping me to say something positive. I could see the confidence in his eyes return. It was an amazing transformation.
In the last 6 months, my son has found his place. He has overcome. He is stronger and better and more confident.
The day his teacher came up to me after school to tell me that Gabriel would be "The Student of the Month", I was shocked. I cried as I walked my children home from school that day thinking about how far we have all come.
This was a proud moment. The day he received his medal.
I thought about my son and how much he is growing. How this experience made him into a more capable young man. He courageously persevered above his circumstances and then exceeded those expectations.
Gabriel's teacher said it best during the ceremony. She said "Gabriel has shown tremendous growth this year academically and personally. He is such a smart student who makes friends easily." Both Bryan and I are so very proud of him.
My tendency as a mother is to make everything easy for my children. I go to great lengths to ensure comfort and ease in their life. Yet, when I am able to watch them persevere through something difficult, I am reminded what being a parent is all about. Not just to make everything easy and comfortable, but to help guide, encourage, and love. Standing by as they figure this world out on their own and make their own place in it.
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