Thank You, Caitie <3
I’ve rewritten this post at least five times this year on paper.
I don’t know how many times I’ve written it in my head.
I’m not even sure this one will come out exactly the way I want it to--that it will express the depth of my love and gratitude for this person.
It’s the end of the year now…and I must get this down. So.
To the teacher who disclosed to me that her favorite movies as a child were “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” and “Benny and Joon,” and that she knew from a very early age that she would work with people who weren’t atypical, you taught me what a real heart and a real life looks like. I have since then balled through rolls of toilet paper watching these movies. I loved both movies as a child too. Maybe somehow our inner child’s were supposed to meet as adults, and my child carved a pathway so that they could meet.
To the teacher who wrote me in an email, “our little buddy is hitting a lot more, but his vocabulary is growing, so I can take the hits;”
Who told me in a parent conference, “if a parent is upset because Dublin slugged their child, then the parent needs to stop taking their child to playgrounds;”
Who advised me to stop treating my son as if he’s autistic, to avoid “lowering the bar” of what he can do because he is actually quite capable of doing so much more, you taught me how to be a better mother, how to listen and tune into my son’s needs.
To the teacher who exclaimed to me “if you are worried about what your friends think, you need to get new friends,” you taught me how to be better to myself, how to listen and tune into my needs.
To the teacher who decided to train a service dog to calm her students;
Who designed her classroom and assignments around positive reinforcements;
Who explained to me that her students may not seem like they are listening, sometimes they are literally looking in the other direction, looking at and doing other things, but are actually listening and absorbing, you taught me how to be a better educator. I've discovered that the people in my classroom may not be dodging eye contact or wiggling in their desks out of disrespect, but because they have sensory needs or emotional distress that are manifesting in their nonverbal style of communication.
Miss Caitie Atencio, what I really want you to know is that conversations with you have been nothing short of educational and spiritual for me!
Your wisdom and grace have profoundly impacted my perception of this life and my son!
I truly believe that my son and I met our better selves when we met you!
If I had a million dollars or more, I’d fold it up and sneak it into your pocket, because your invaluable insights as Dublin's Autistic Kinder Teacher has been nothing short of prophetic for our family!
You are not only a wonderfully gifted Special Education Teacher, but you are a gawd damn DIETY!
