My life would change years ago while in high school. It was during the days when kids with special needs weren’t allowed in public schools. My gym teacher asked me to monitor four girls with special needs because they had swimming lessons at our high school. I was to help them get ready for their lessons. Why was I asked? I was a teenager with low self esteem and an underachiever academically. But the teacher asked me and I obliged. Did my teacher find a way to help me feel good about myself? Did she see something caring in me I didn’t see? I had a heart for the kids ever since I was little and saw a child bullied outside of the school.
After college I had two thoughts. One was to pursue acting and the other was teaching kids with special needs. I decided acting wasn’t for me but I didn’t have a degree in education. But miraculously or shall I say with synchronicity, I was given an opportunity to work with the children again in a private school setting in a church.
I loved my job. I learned by interacting with the children as I had no training. I was blessed with two fantastic assistants who knew more than I did about the diagnoses and behavior. But I learned. As I went on, I learned more by getting a masters degree then by raising my own children. I went back to work when my kids were in school.
Instinctively, I knew the children were my teachers. They were like angels to me. Their love was uncondiditonal. There was never an agenda but mostly kind souls navigating their own lives. Some had supportive families while other did not. I found they brought out a gentle nature in me, a calmness. There was always a kindred spirit feeling when I was with them. I knew they were the most important teachers I would ever have.
When sadness came and my daughter passed away, these children with special needs were kind and empathetic . Like my own children, they needed me and I needed them. They were comforting, caring and seemed to have a wisdom about the needs of the emotions of others.
Years later, my sister encouraged me to write a memoir about my experience teaching them. I realize I am the mother and grandmother I am now because they taught me about life, loving the now, forgiveness and finding joy in all accomplishments as well as the little things. The students embraced learning and loved succeeding. They seemed to know instinctively who were their advocates.
It is with such gratitude toward heaven that their grace glowed around me. The shy girl with self esteem issues changed the day when I first volunteered. I thrived, and had goals for the future. Helping them helped me mature and grow. For twenty-five years I was blessed to have the privilege of teaching Special Needs Children The Angels on my Shoulder.
