Today Joy and I made a "Chicca Chicca Boom Boom" tree. Beautiful! She cut, tore, and glued paper. A great occupational therapy adventure. I watched her faithfully retrieve each letter sticker, name the letter, say the sound....a far cry from our math lesson this morning! We are studying "4" this week. Today we can't remember "1", "2", or "3". I know a child who knows all her letters, all the letter sounds, and many printed words should be able to comprehend numbers. Memorization is one of Joy's gifts. She hasn't yet memorized her numbers from 1 to 10.
I remember my days in the classroom. I had many students with challenges. I found opportunities to challenge these students as creative adventures. I found much stimulation in the problem-solving. What's wrong with me now! It is so different when it is your own child. I need to stop taking everything so personally. Joy's little two-year old twin sisters, Faith and Promise, spouted off the numbers 1 to 12 this morning - another bittersweet moment. I'm so very proud of them, for they have overcome so much already in their young lives. I just wanted my Joy to seem intellectually older for a bit longer.
I can feel the good Lord pushing me from behind. Reminding me of my promise to "stand up" and bravely teach this little one. I am praying for a cheerful heart and a teachable spirit. All that matters is right here in front of me. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be." Matthew 6:21
