Yesterday our daughter Delaney, came home from school and told Robyn about an event that happened at school. Throughout the year, Delaney had told us about kids in her class that, to quote her, “are like my brother” seemingly to mean that maybe they might have a form of autism. Although I do not know this to be a fact, having had the opportunity to attend a field trip, I knew who she was talking about and think she is probably fairly accurate. But I digress, let me move on:
Delaney explained to Robyn that during an end of school tradition, the kids exchange niceties, notes for lack of a better word with each other to share what they will do during the summer or how they can get in touch with one another during the summer. Delaney is a social butterfly and is liked by everyone in her class. It is quite remarkable how social she can be. But while exchanging notes, she observed two kids that had not yet received any notes from the rest of the kids. She felt badly, so she approached them and shared her own nicety with these two kids, really making their day, a gesture that was quickly imitated by others in the class as she tells it.
This is a very simple lesson that is very important for all kids to learn, just because some kids are different, they just as deserving of our attention ; to quote Temple Grandin, “Different, not less.” This gesture also gives us tremendous pride that she has learned so much from watching her big brother over the years of her short life. Above all, it serves as a lesson that it doesn’t matter how old you are, you are never too young to be an advocate.
Delaney explained to Robyn that during an end of school tradition, the kids exchange niceties, notes for lack of a better word with each other to share what they will do during the summer or how they can get in touch with one another during the summer. Delaney is a social butterfly and is liked by everyone in her class. It is quite remarkable how social she can be. But while exchanging notes, she observed two kids that had not yet received any notes from the rest of the kids. She felt badly, so she approached them and shared her own nicety with these two kids, really making their day, a gesture that was quickly imitated by others in the class as she tells it.
This is a very simple lesson that is very important for all kids to learn, just because some kids are different, they just as deserving of our attention ; to quote Temple Grandin, “Different, not less.” This gesture also gives us tremendous pride that she has learned so much from watching her big brother over the years of her short life. Above all, it serves as a lesson that it doesn’t matter how old you are, you are never too young to be an advocate.