Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Pomp and Circumstance

Tomorrow is a momentous day in the Scissorhands Household.

Julian, alias Choo Choo, graduates from Pre-K. From the wonderful school he started when he was about two. So why do I keep breaking down into tears whenever I think about it? Because this is my baby and this isn't just any graduation. He is leaving the comfort of a school that is so perfect in every way. It is geared towards childen with developmental delays, although some classes are integrated, which means they are composed of typically developing peers along with children with mild delays and may have up to 20 chilren in it.

Now Julian's class - these are the kids that experience life by grabbing it strongly! There are 11 children in Julian's class - 1 teacher - the cutest guy you could ever want teaching your child because he looks like a typical twenty-something guy - kinda tall, the cool hair cut, sports playing kind of look. He's sort of shy. I would love to fix him up with my niece, but that's another story. But when you watch him with the childen, well they respond and love him. There are also four assistants. The makeup of the classes has been largely composed of boys - present class included, just two girls - Tanisha and Tianna.

And that's where the love story of our time begins - Julian and Tianna. Oh they are the cutest couple. Tianna is tall and thin - Julian average height for his age, is just a little over her shoulder. They find each other and are drawn together in all activities. Brendan (Julian's teacher) has said that they could be playing on opposite sides of the playroom but they make their way to the middle and there they hug oh so tightly. Many of the children in his class, Julian included, also have various tactile/sensory integration issues. I saw this at their Olympics last week. At the end, they were sitting together - Tianna absent mindedly stroking Julian's soft hair, Julian rubbing Tianna's braids. It's sort of an absent minded thing they do - unaware of that inner urge for touch. Sort of how Julian must run his hands along surfaces - he craves the "feeling". Then they looked at each other - and kissed, on the lips. Now that wasn't absent minded! And they laughed, and they kissed again. Then Tianna got mad about something and turned away, but they were back together before long. Of course, Mr. Scissorhands was taping with the video camera and was like "Way to go, Idaho". But they are the sweetest. I will be sure to take many pictures tomorrow of them.

You know - a child like Julian works out quite fine for me - can I ever hug my children enough? Can it ever be tight enough? The problem is loosening the grip for the next educational phase.

And more importantly, will there ever be another like Tianna?

Anyway, if you haven't done so, there's a lovely contest at Sar's the Belle's Brawl and you may just want to cast a vote G's way. Now get out of here you crazy kids and let me cry alone.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is Brian. It is 2:44 AM, and I read your e-mail so had to read your post.Ah, GQ, you are a wonderful mother(Hallmark moment) I can just see the classroom. Now do you understand why we've connected? And why despite all I've through I am the eternal optimist. I know that you want to be alone to cry, but it is too late for that, you have me now my forever friend.

Anonymous said...

Your post has caused me to flashback to our youngest son's graduation from kindergarten. He was so cute...a handful, but cute (his saving grace, let me tell you. had he not been a cutey, well, I don't even want to think about it)...little did we know how easy we had it then...my oh my...but I'll spare you the prospect of pondering the distant future and allow you to revel in the greatness of now!

Anonymous said...

Ah, I see how it's going to be...blogger won't let me identify myself this morning. Now I understand why Brian's post says "This is Brian." I may be slow but I eventually catch on...

The post above, should you be wondering which "Joel" it might be is none other than this one...

bobobanjoey.typepad.com

Anonymous said...

blogger trys to mess with your mind...convinced it is evil.

FirstNations said...

my daughter had a sweetie love like this in kindergarten...a tall, goofy kid who sucked his thumb and cried easily.

every one since has followed that same pattern. sigh.

Kyahgirl said...

G, this is a lovely post.

Julien and Tianna, what a sweet love.

With what you've told us before about Julien I can understand why this whole phase is fraught with emotion.

I love listening to you talk about your children. Don't stop.

Jamie Dawn said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog.
My high speed just got repaired (a day early) - Hooray!!

This post about Julian is so warm and full of love.
I hope his next educational phase brings him much happiness and more loving friends like Tianna.

Doug The Una said...

Tianna sounds like a once-in-a-lifer. Make sure Julian gets her IM ID.

G said...

To all: We just got home from the day's festivities which included time spent at MIL's (always accounts for the lowgrade headache) - stimulus - response - stiumulus - response.

Thank you all for dropping by Julian's graduation party. It was such a great day with a beautiful ceremony and slide show! The kids were pros - they worked hard and really shined.

Doug - I know a good thing when I see it. We have all pertinent info. Thank you.

G said...

FN: I just reread and LOL each time I read yours. Look, at least she's consistent.

Anonymous said...

HOW DID I MISS THIS??? was i just too stupid/busy/brain-dead to realize you had a new post?? oh-me-oh-my-oh-me-oh-my....

i am crying right along with you, girlfriend! i know this tender love dance--andy had a couple of those growing up. beyond adorable.

this was such a lovely/touching story... can't wait for our coffee date -- then you can show me pictures and give me all the details, in *person*! (we're having that date... you know that, right??)

so happy to know the day went well... and that you survived your MIL with little more than a low grade headache! xox

G said...

Thanks schnuppy - you know we are going to be viewing the pics over coffeee/lunch/ice cream - all of the above!

Minka said...

That is so beautiful.
When I read it, I remember a little dude when I started school. he used to follow me around in a slight distance mostly, sometime spush me off the swings, pull at my hair and stuff like that. But not in a harsh way...when I was sick, I really missed him upsetting me. :)
I clearly have to do soem catching up here, sinc ei donæt know anythign about Julian´s special situation...

G said...

Thanks for dropping in Minka and for your sweet words. If you want to have a frame of reference for today's post, just read the Here Comes Choo Choo post (working on the linkage, but down towards the bottom of the page).

G said...

Maybe you were wise beyond your years and were drawn to his intellect or, maybe it just had a nice shape.

Minka said...

Ok, I found the link...thank you and it was an amazing read!

Miz BoheMia said...

Went through that on Tuesday. My daughter graduated from kindergarten and next Friday my son will graduate from pre-k! There were tears at my daughter's graduation and there will be more at my son's! Crap!

and mroe than tears about me, about my babies growing up, I think it is about this honor and miracle that comes out of being present to live and breathe such momentous milestones right there beside them... One second I am right there, a parent watching her child, and the next I am my daughter, in the future, looking back on the many milestones in my life, this being one of them... and then I am myself again and just in awe of the woman she is to become and all of this melts together into one big choking emotion that simply cannot be contained, you know?

Can you tell I was moved by your post girlfriend? ;-)

G said...

Minka: Thank you. So sweet of you to want to know a bit more about us. You're a special person. Have a good weekend.

Ahhh MizB: now I'm moved by your comment mi amiga. You encapsulated my feelings so perfectly - that twist and turn my baby - me - looking back - future - past. I mean it's enough to send you into the fetal position I say. All sort of wrapped into one word - possibility.

Congrats and good luck to you and enjoy these days. Un beso y un abrazzo (sp?) G

PS I thought I held up pretty well until I reviewed the tape and saw the tears streaming down my face. after all, i'm not a robot - just pass me a tissue, okay.

Anonymous said...

good morining sister/girlfriend! i just wanted to pop (click?) over and thank you for your wonderful/insightful comments regarding all things snarky at the parky.

i have a hankerin' to sit down with ya over that coffee... sadly, without an e-mail address in sight, i can't contact you. any chance you can shoot an email to me? (just wound it...we can't have any bloody emails floating around in cyberspace): sophietoes1@aol.com (that's right, sophietoes *1* because, apparently, a "sophietoes" already existed when i opened this account. go figure.)

hope you kids have fun this weekend... tho' i'm sure you're all a bit exhausted after that whirlwind of celebratory graduation activities you just went through. : D

G said...

I've sent up the smoke signals...

Anonymous said...

we were out for a bit, just got back... i shall look for those signals on the aol horizon shortly! xox

Anonymous said...

I'm glad it was a good ending. I bawled when each of my kids finished kindergarten (it was a 3-5-year-old program, and they had also attended a very good school with special people). Toyplayer played Pomp and Circumstance on the violin for his and got lots of people crying along with me.
Julian sounds like a sweetie. I hope he will find a suitable academic home for the future.

G said...

You know a little cutie on violin gets me every time. Julian's school placement for Kindergarten looks to be a good place for him. Thanks for your wishes.