One thing about the kid - he experiences joy in ways that I cannot fathom. Playing with a puppy, enjoying a game of hide and seek, or just getting his favorite girl scout cookie can make Finn downright joyful. It is pretty inspiring.
Frankly, he has seemed a lot happier recently. There are probably a number of reasons why. His expressive communication gets better by the day, and the more he feels heard and understood, the happier he seems. His cousin also came to visit for the last couple of weeks, and she might be the only thing he loves more than his Omi.
But the biggest reason he is happier is probably because we have changed some things about his schooling. During the fall semester, he had a teacher who viewed him as nothing more than a problem and an imposition. Not only did he feel the disdain, but other kids in the class felt it as well and probably reacted to Finn accordingly. That experience profoundly affected his mood, so I am glad that we have moved in a different direction.
I guess there is nothing all that surprising about the impact that teachers can have. When I was a kid, some teachers convinced me that I was worthless, while others gave me the capacity and the confidence to dream. I suppose things won’t be any different for Finn, except that Tina and I will need to be especially diligent about paying attention to how Finn reacts to his teachers and classes. We will need to be his barometer and his voice.
In any event, it is really nice to have happy, joyous Finn back in my life. Hopefully this good mood will stick around for quite a while.
