V for Valencia's Day

V for Valencia's Day      

Valencia has always been a child full of love to give. She smiles at everyone and truly believes that everyone is her friend. As she's gotten older her love has taken on a form of bossy-ness but we can get into that later. I wouldn't have the slightest idea where she gets that from anyway. 😉

While in kindergarten, she was at a new school in a new grade with a new wheelchair. Naturally as a parent you worry about your child getting picked on but you never know how kids are gonna act to someone who has to be in a wheelchair. What i've learned both as a teacher and as a parent is that bullying/unkind words are a learned behavior, children especially at this younger age just know how to love. It can be nerve wracking at first worrying about your child being bullied. 

However, I've always said that Valencia has always had the best teacher for her, every year she's matched with a teacher that genuinely loves V like their own and protects her at all costs. Her kindergarten teacher set the tone for her school years, she was kind, loving, and tough when necessary. She knew what I've said to every teacher there after "Don't let this wheelchair fool you" V knows right from wrong and how to manage for the most part completely by herself. I tell V all the time what she can do, she will do. We don't feel sorry for our daughter, we embrace our differences. Mrs. Wade was made to be a teacher, not only was it Valencia's first year in kindergarten but it was mine as well. She became a teacher to both of us. I will forever hold a special place in my heart for this woman and the love she gives to every child. 

As I was saying though, it's natural to worry about your child getting bullied, but in Mrs. Wade's class no bully's existed, she wouldn't allow it. That's not to say however, that in other classes around the school maybe some kids just didn't know better. I'll never forget during after school dismissal one day, we had all the kids lined up in the hallway and a new student had joined our campus a few weeks into the school year. One day Valencia rolls out to ask me for a snack from my classroom and this child looks Valencia up and down takes a good long look at her wheelchair, V notices him but even since way back then she has ignored most stares, the child then ask with not a curious tone, not a worried tone but kind of a rude tone says "What's wrong with you?" she then without flenching looks him up and down and goes "Nothing, what's wrong with you?". 

As a parent I turned and giggled, I was proud that she stood up for herself and without being crazy about it. The student just shrugged his shoulders and left it alone. I still worried of course about her being bullied but not as much after witnessing this. I knew we were on the right track, not to let others talk down to you because you are different. No matter what. Choose love everyday, to everyone. Choose kindness. Not all of our battles can be seen with the use of a wheelchair.