My son is being transformed by time from boy to man, all while remaining uniquely innocent. And, these days, happy. He’s swimming a lot this summer and has just been moved to a “high school” class with older kids. This is only his third classroom since starting school at Anderson in September of 2011. I like that they transition the kids slowly, as is appropriate for each individual.
His first two teachers were wonderful, and this new teacher has worked as a teacher’s aide with Jonah in the past. I’m grateful Jonah seems to be coming into his own. He can stay at Anderson until he is 21, at which point he will graduate; as we move forward, we can all figure out what’s the next best step for his housing and happiness.
I feel more optimistic about my son’s future than I have since he went away. His charts show only minor behaviors like noncompliance and swatting his hand, and their frequency is lower than ever.
One day earlier this summer, the kids in his class made tye-dye shirts. Jonah had a blast and was not shy about showing off his creation.
He even has the shadow of a hipster beard and mustache, when his daddy or caregivers don’t shave him. He doesn’t seem to care about facial hair one way or the other, though he had to have some small bumpy skin tags removed from his cheek and chin.
That’s the other thing — Jonah now has the ability to stay still long enough for the
laser procedure. Before this, we’d have to put him under general anesthesia for everything – even a dental cleaning.
And at his glaucoma appointments, now they can do a special scanning eye exam because Jonah can keep his head in the machine for a minute or two at a time.
Last time we were at the glaucoma doc and the technician guy was asking Jonah to keep still, I wanted to say “dude, you have no idea you are witnessing a freaking miracle right here.” This is the kid who has been banned from doc offices because of his out-of-control aggression.
Now he is redirectable. He waits pretty damn patiently for the doctor, and follows instructions with our prompting. The doc sometimes forgets Jonah does not know left and right, so I point or use something in the room as a reference. Boo still tries to cheat when they bother to test his left eye. He rocks and hums and asks for two hamburgers. He cooperates with patience he never had before. He laughs as he waits til he’s set free to walk back to the van.
Life is good for Jonah Russell. Andy is not as optimistic as I am. Yes, we’ve been fooled before into the lull of complacency when Boo is good – but he’s never been this good for this long, and I say he is growing and learning and better at processing his emotions. I say this is a miracle, if only a highly personal one.
People all around me with kids Jonah’s age are dealing with so many parenting problems that I feel a whole new gratitude for what and who my child is – and is becoming.
More than meets the eye.
The Never Normal 