This week Mr. G sends these images saying simply: “I miss my buddy”. Now Mr G is a teacher at Mateo’s school, Horizon Academy. He, however, doesn’t even teach Mateo. But from the very beginning of the school year, Mateo has gravitated to Mr. G. I honestly think he has spent more time in Mr’s G’s classroom than he has in his own homeroom! Mateo seeks him out. Mr. G seeks Teo out. They are buddies for sure.
Trip Down Memory Lane…
Over the years, Mateo has had some of the most amazing shadows, teachers, and therapists. I’ve learned that those who choose to work with children with special needs are just amazing people. I imagine them with the most beautiful souls out there. Teachers love our kids. I mean, especially with this COVID-19 experience, we can all recognize that teachers don’t teach for the money. They teach because they really love our kids and love doing what they do. But Special Ed teachers? Shadows? Therapists? I feel like they take that love and devotion to a whole different level.
Jamaica
In Jamaica, Mateo’s head therapist Lisa, was always busy. I very, very, rarely saw her just kick back and relax. She was always on the go. On some mornings, after a particularly bad night (and those times Mateo had more bad nights than good), I would drop Mateo off to therapy and stop to talk to Lisa. I would whine about lack of sleep, how overwhelmed I felt, what I was trying to do to encourage Mateo to eat- all manner of topics. I would go on and on (and those of you who know me, know that’s a particular talent of mine) and she would sit and listen. At times she’d give advice or offer to help in some way, but whatever it was, she would listen. Looking back, I know she didn’t have the time to listen to me. But she did.
At Lisa’s center, Mateo’s first real shadow/therapist was Aunty Sheryl. I swear Mateo loved her more than he loved me- and at those times Mateo was extremely clingy with me. I swear she loved him more than I did a lot of times too. Seriously. She was firm with him and she was able to get him to do things that I still can’t get him to do. She was also loving and super patient, and believed deeply that Mateo was capable of amazing things. To this date, she is the ONLY person EVER who has offered (without hint, suggestion, or begging) to take Mateo for a weekend. She just always wanted him with her.
Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico (PR), Mateo had Yayleen – who years later still checks in on him and tells me how much she misses him. He also had Jessica. Jessica begged his school to be Mateo’s shadow. The school had a policy that parents couldn’t request who would be their child’s paraprofessional. In this case it was the paraprofessional begging for my child! After we left PR, Jessica actually flew to the Dominican Republic (DR) to spend a week with Mateo because she missed him so much. I’m 100 percent positive that even after over 5 years since she has worked with him, that Jessica will find her way to Belize to see him again- probably really soon.
Dominican Republic
In DR, he had so many, Aneudy, Yulesy, Raquel, Karen, Karla, Lia, Kareny, Joanna. The tears couldn’t stop flowing when we left and I get regular requests for Mateo’s updates and photos. They keep in close contact and keep offering to help in whatever way they can.
Belize
In Belize we have Jen. Jen moved in with us during COVID-19. She and Mateo now snuggle every night and have been known to go swimming around 9PM. She started out staying only week days, but gradually now even stays through the weekends. Those two have a blast together! I’m not sure who laughs louder when they are playing.
That One Teacher…
The point of all my reminiscing is that these wonderful people have not only taken great care of my son, but they loved him and continue to love no matter the distance and time. Most of us can look back to our school days and remember that one teacher that really influenced us- that got us to love Henry the 5th and quote Shakespeare or introduced us to love of dance or who helped us through a particularly hard time or snuck us lunch every day because she knew we had nothing to eat.
We all have that teacher – the cool Mr. G whom Mateo can’t stay away from or the caring Ms. Cas who still has students who don’t forget her on her birthday or Mother’s Day even 40 years after graduating or the Mr. Neal that introduced you to your love of science.
Mateo has been blessed with not just one or two- but so many who still take a keen interest in him and still miss him so. They love him and not because he’s autistic. They have seen him at his best and know him at his worst, but still they continue to love him. That alone tells you about the kind of people that choose to work with our special needs kids. As I said before- they are truly the best kind of people. Our lives have been blessed by them.
Teacher’s Day
Friday is Teacher’s Day in Belize. Take a minute to think about that special teacher from your past. Try to reach out to him or her and say Thank You. Remember, this is not a profession for money. This is a profession that is all about love. Take some time to tell that special teacher how much you miss him or her and appreciate what he or she has done for you.
Happy Teacher’s Day to all of you out there. We really do miss you too!
