To say I was worried about kindergarten at the start of the year would be an understatement. (Not from an academic standpoint, but for everything else).
But Cooper couldn’t have been placed with a better teacher. She has been in the kindergarten classroom for 30 years and takes no nonsense. She couldn’t have been more fitting.
She is big on each child having their own “sparkle” and during their last day ceremony yesterday, she mentioned it to the parents. I glanced at Cooper when she said it, and he stood on his spot, smiled huge, pointed to his cochlear implants and mouthed “MY SPARKLE!”
While being deaf isn’t his only sparkle, it made my heart burst to see him not only proud of that fact, but considering it a sparkle.
All I want for him, now and forever, is to embrace exactly who he is and never let anyone dull that.
I share this not to brag, but because early on in his diagnosis, these were the moments I never could have anticipated. In those days, I’d have done anything to change his being deaf. I never imagined the beauty and pride that would accompany it, and if this post can reach one parent in those trenches, it’s worth it.
Cooper, I love you and all your sparkles. I couldn’t be more proud of the human being you are. I’m so grateful I get to be your mom.
(I’m going to consider his unwillingness to take a photo one of his “sparkles” in this instance)