The Kenny Family: Pre-school Graduate

Friday, June 12, 2015

Pre-school Graduate

Yesterday, Sara graduated from pre-school! She has worked hard the last two years and has learned so much!

As her parents, we felt so lost and alone when we first walked into those school doors. But, slowly, over time, we came to realize that we weren't alone. Sara has a whole tiny village in this school community that cared for her, supported her, and helped her learn and grow in just the ways she needed it.

Below is the note I wrote to her beloved teacher, Ms. Mair.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Ms. Mairi,

Two years ago, Brian and I were terrified. We were clinging to the hope that our beautiful, brilliant, complex girl surely wasn't autistic. Even though deep down, we knew! From the minute we first stepped into your classroom, we knew. We knew it was the right place for Sara to learn and grown, and for us to learn and grow, as her parents, along with her.

Today, she completes her preschool career and moves onto Kindergarten. We'd be lying if we said we had no fear. But, it’s different now. Because of you.

Those first days were filled with so many tears. But, slowly, you taught our girl, and us, not just that people believed in her, but how to believe in ourselves.

You taught us so much more than what you were tasked with teaching, you taught her that she could learn and you showed us ways in which to help her.

You taught her how to play, how to begin to invite others into a world in which she so desperately wants company but didn’t know how to find it.

You celebrated, with us, not just her accomplishments, but her.

You showed her that she belonged and thru your monthly parent meetings, you showed us that we belonged.

You sought not just to teach her but to learn from her.

You gave her respect, and it is that for which we are most grateful.

In the end, you gave our girl so much more than your job required. You gave her the tools to build a foundation upon which she will expand for the rest of her life.

We will never have words big enough.

Thank you.

Brian and Jenn Kenny
Sara's parents

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~