It's John's Turn

Oh John. He pretty much wraps every single adult around his finger from the moment they lay eyes on him. He is sooooo stinkin' cute. And he's cool too- all the kids in every grade know who he is and call out to him in the hallways and on the playground.

Now the boy still has some 'stuff' that is not always fun.  He doesn't always remember to think first, know what I mean?  And sometimes he still needs to manipulate and control.  BUT I have seen him change and grow and maybe, just maybe, heal a little bit- and that gives me such incredible hope.

For the longest time, even though I knew he was learning how to read, he refused to read out loud to me.  Oh, he would do it because it was required, but he would speak so softly and mumble so badly that it was impossible to know if he was actually reading or maybe speaking in tongues.  Last week, though, when I asked him to read he sat up tall and read every word loud and clear.  He knew he could do it.  He was proud of himself.  And I was proud of him.  And when he finished the book and looked up at me with clear eyes because he was regulated and in control of himself- I needed that.  I needed to see that moment and be reminded that he has come a long long way.  And he and I needed to have that little happy-dance celebration where we recognized what he had accomplished.