Quota Met!

Tuesday, Dec 16 

Megan told me I could miss two days of blogging - done! I was concerned that I was going to end up snoozing the evening away, thus making it three misses, but here I am, awake, and finding I have a strong urge to tell you about Ashton.
Ashton is one of my Writing kids. He is not more unique, more hurt, or more special than the others, but he stands out a little more at Christmas, I think. Ashton has worked hard at maintaining his "You can't touch me" demeanor this fall . . . sometimes. There are days when he deliberately tries to push any button he can find, usually by digging his heels in and refusing to work. He has some minor issues in that he is incredibly messy and cannot spell, but oh my, is he smart. When he can't help himself - and it happens more than he would like - he offers insights that drop my jaw.
I bought Ashton a book a few months ago. He had read the first of a twelve book series and the second had gone missing from the library. The next day I bought it at Coles and put it on his desk. It took everything I had not to cry. We had just watched Freedom Writers so it seemed a little weird, but his reaction was exactly like the scene in the film. He just stared at it, turned it over a few times and asked, "Is it brand new?"  Small things. Yesterday Ashton brought me the book and asked if it was ok that he donate it to the library. Yup.
But that was yesterday. Today was one of the push back days. He and Marcus (who is a drooling yellow lab pup in sixteen-ear-old form) were in rare mode - they decided I needed to be reminded today that I am not so special.I love these moments . . . in retrospect. Talk about comeuppance and learning - for me, not them. I need to be mindful that relationships are not build quickly or without scratches. I need to be careful not be push or demand a relationship these kids cannot afford to give.
Brief aside - I am the most grateful for each of you when I am with these kids; grateful for the time, the fights, the shared experiences and the love that have made our relationships strong and enduring. I talk about you all with them for a reason. I want them to know that it is good to love people to distraction, that supportive relationships can change your life.
I asked the kids today to brain storm Christmas words, phrases, memories, etc on the back of a paragraph assignment I had given them. I said we were going to talk about rich narrative writing. I had drawn an outline of a tree on the sheet. Everyone else, including Tami and I, filled the tree and more with words and drawings while Ashton sat with his arms crossed. Eventually I told them what we were going to do. Everyone had to choose one of their words or phrases and build us the story - out loud. He grabbed his pencil and scribbled several words. I asked three others to tell their story before Ashton. As each of them shared I asked questions, looking for them to expand details, colors, characters. It was fun and they enjoyed the whole, "Now we can see it in our heads". Then it was Ashton's turn. I asked if he had picked one and this is how our conversation followed:
- Yeah, I have a story - Every year for ten years some teacher has made us write stupid stories about Christmas. The end.
- So you've written a Christmas story each year?
- Yeah.
- And you haven't enjoyed writing them.
- No, I said they are stupid.
- Can you tell us about one of those years?
- What do you mean?
- Well, does one year stand out?
- Yeah, grade one. I was in French Immersion and the teacher asked us to write about Christmas. I didn't know I had to write in French, so I wrote it in English and she made fun of me in front of the class.
 . . . It was a moment. I wish you could have been there to feel the empathy in the room. I have been fretting for a week or so about the writing curriculum we will not get covered, how we are so far removed from a legitimate language class . .. no more. If nothing else positive happens before the end of semester I will hold close today, when they all shared aloud - private memories - and when Ashton felt kindness directed at him from everyone around him.
So, that's it. I love you all. Have a safe and supported Wednesday!
xoxoxo