How you treat others is a BIG DEAL: Addie’s story
June 20, 2011
Addie wins at the Down Syndrome Special Olympics...a BIG DEAL!
In sports, in the classroom, or in the neighborhood, your kids will rub shoulders with children who have mental and physical challenges. And it is your job as parents to help them understand and appreciate those children as individuals.
I’d like you to meet Addie, a 7-year-old girl with down syndrome. Her mother wrote about a day in Addie’s life and when I read her story, I knew I had to share it with you.
Yesterday was the last day of first grade for Addie, my oldest daughter. Addie is fully mainstreamed in a 1st grade classroom and has an aide to assist her in the classroom, and at recess and lunch.
At Wolf Canyon Elementary the students line up every morning to get a “character talk” from the principle, say the pledge, and sing. Since it was the last day I stood with Addie and her class until they were escorted by the teachers.
The sun was out, but it was a little breezy and Addison, who was wearing a sundress, began to shiver. She talked with her friends and played hand clapping games, interjecting occasionally that she was cold. One of the girls in her class, noting that Addie was cold, took her sweastshirt off her back and with a smile on her face said, “here Addie, don’t be cold.” They hugged and continued with their games.
The teachers walked the kids to their classrooms. As Addie hung up her backpack, a third grader passed by and said to his friend, “Hey dude, there’s Addie!” The other boy shouted, “Hey Addie! HI.” She turned, smiled and in her low raspy voice, “hi guys.”
Later, when I picked her up after school, there was much last-day-of-school excitement. One of the moms from Addie’s class invited Addie and I to go out for frozen yogurt. When I said “yes” a girl from her class said, “Yay! Addie’s going.”
So what? you may be thinking. What’s the big deal about a sweatshirt, Hi from a 3rd grader, and frozen yogurt?
The big deal is acceptance and inclusion. We desire these for our kids. Heck, we desire them for ourselves as adults. My other 3 children have experienced acceptance and inclusion, but I wondered if Addie would. When I was a kid, kids who were different were not treated equally. They were separate, singled out, misunderstood, and left out. Not always because of cruelty, sometimes just because of ignorance and lack of education.
The big deal is that at Addie’s elementary school there is a principle willing to take a chance on a child who is delayed developmentally. Addie will not help raise their average test scores. She will cost them money for speech therapists, occupational therapists, and aides. But the principal knows that including her in a typical classroom will make a difference in her education, her behaviors and her life. And it not only benefits Addie, but her class and the entire school.
A school is changed when children of all abilities are part of the classroom, the playground, and the cafeteria. It teaches the valuable lesson that though we are unique we can share this life together, growing, learning and loving each other.
The big deal is a 1st grade teacher who sacrifices her time to modify curriculum, learn about special needs, and attend extra meetings just to make a difference in the life of one child. Because of her, my child believes she can do anything. She’s learning to read, write, add, subtract, and communicate clearly with others. Not only does she have friends, she believes she is the most popular girl on campus and reminds me that, “they are ALL my friends mom. They love me.”
The big deal is a community of families that have embraced Addie and educated their children on how Addie is different and the same from them. And as a result, most of her peers don’t think anything of her differences. In their words, “that’s just Addie.”
I believe that Addie has made a difference in the life of these students. They have a softer heart and a quicker response to help others in need and a love for someone who may not be just like them.
Perhaps one of her classmates said it best when she told her mom, “I am really surprised I’m friends with Addie. I would never thought I would have a friend like her.”
The mom responded, “Why honey. What makes you say that?”
Her reply, “because Mom, I have brown hair and Addie’s is blonde.”
Jennifer Jones lives in Southern California with her husband and four children.
From Kids in Sports | Character Building | JBM Thinks, post How you treat others is a BIG DEAL: Addie’s story
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Thank you so much for sharing Addie’s story. It warms my heart to hear that their are caring and understanding adults out there. Children tend to mimic their parents and authority figures. These parents, teachers and school administrators are doing it right. Kudos to them and their children!
My son is hearing impaired and I know it’s hard being the different child when others don’t understand.
Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your comments. I followed you on GFC too. I hope your son can find the acceptance and inclusion that is so important to all of us.
This is the most feel good post I’ve read in ages!
Thank you! I loved it when I first read it too!
New follower from Follow Me Back Tuesday!
http://practicalfrugality.blogspot.com/2011/06/follow-me-back-tuesday.html
Hi Karen! Thanks for stopping by. I just returned the follow!
Hi, Newest follower from Follow Me Back Tuesday… would love for you to consdier following me back. XO Malia
http://www.yesterdayontuesday.com
Malia, thanks for stopping by. I am a day for the Follow Me Back Tuesday! I think your message went to spam. I will check you out!
Great post… Wow! Also love the look of your site. (-_-)
Thanks, Norma…I just stopped by your sight as well. It’s great connecting with you.
Thanks for sharing Addie’s story. Great food for thought. Children who learn to embrace differences will have a much easier time with what life has to throw at them. A real “win-win” situation.
Thanks, Linda. I fell in love with Addie when I read her story!
Beautiful, love everything about your site. I am all about love and giving love and beginning with love. I teach my kids that we have to open our doors with love and of it starts getting cold then slowly shut it. Loved your post
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Thanks, Suha! I’ve been to your site and I really like the wholistic approach you bring to wellness. Losing weight, life coaching, exercise…they are all interconnected more than we realize within us.
What a WONDERFUL and loving story about Addie. When I saw her cute smiling face, I knew I had to read the story you wrote. I too, had an aunt that had down syndrome and I completely grew UP with her since I was a tiny baby. She was one of my most favorite people in the world and was very funny and loving and I always enjoyed spending time with her. She was a real blessing in our lives and it’s obvious little Addie is as well in the lives of others at her school. I’m so happy to hear she’s getting to lead a “normal” life. Thank you for sharing the adorable story and adorable picture of Addie – my favorite line in the whole post though is the last one regarding the hair color – I had to literally LOL at that one! I love a child’s innocence!
Tracy, I fell in love with Addie when I read her story and saw her photo. I hope someday I can actually be blessed to meet her!
Janis, aloha. Thx so much for sharing this terrific story.
While I appreciate the acceptance aspect of it, what I absolutely loved was the ending.
“Perhaps one of her classmates said it best when she told her mom, “I am really surprised I’m friends with Addie. I would never thought I would have a friend like her.”
The mom responded, “Why honey. What makes you say that?”
Her reply, “because Mom, I have brown hair and Addie’s is blonde.”
How perfect is that? Thank heavens that wise mother asked the question rather than “assume” she knew why her daughter wouldn’t be friends with Addie.
Had that mother not asked and listened, the more could well have “lectured” her daughter on a topic that never even came to the daughter’s mind.
Thx so much, Janis, for sharing this wonderful story. Aloha. Janet
Janet, thanks so much for your comments. I fell in love with Addie when I read the story from her mom. I have never met her, but I would love to. Maybe someday I will be so blessed to meet her!
Hi,friend! I finally read Addie’s story and was not disappointed. I hope to meet her someday too. If we open ourselves up to the lessons of life and love that children can teach us, the richer our lives could be for sure!
My goodness, what a wonderful story. It’s great she participates in sports, that’s always good for kids. I’m a big supporter of the Special Olympics, too.
Visiting from ‘Cup of Joe’ blog hop.
Barbara,
http://spanishforkids-jbplbarbara.blogspot.com
Hi Barbara…thanks for stopping by. I just got your comment. It got buried in spam. Yes, Abbie is a special little girl!