With each first, comes the hopes and plans for the next. Dreaming of what the next day, week, month, and year will bring. Planning the next birthday party, arranging next weekends play dates, deciding on where to go for the next vacation, picking out the next size up clothing, wondering about the next school year, anticipating what first you will be celebrating.
Today, we celebrated a first with Phoebe. One we hoped she would get to experience, but were not sure she would be able to.
Her health has always made navigating school a tricky topic. It is difficult being able to find the right balance of time for her to be in school each day without it being too much to where her body and immune system cannot handle it. Making sure each day is beneficial to her education, supplying the necessary physical and occupational therapies she needs, arranging the early pickup times so ensure she doesn't 1) over do it, risking injury and 2) feel left out, excluded and different because she has to sit on the sidelines while her friends go to recess and gym because she is not cleared for those activities, all while making sure accommodations are set for any situation that can present itself can become overwhelming, stressful, leave you in a perpetual gray area of not knowing what to do.
The community we live in, and the school district the girls are in, is one of the main reasons Phoebe was able to have today. It has been their acceptance, concern, encouragement and compassion for Phoebe's situation that has helped Phoebe experience this first year at LCS. They have taken a special approach to handling her special needs, and have helped to create a very fluid, team built plan. A plan that addresses all of Phoebe's conditions, symptoms, restrictions, and concerns while still giving her a Kindergarten experience that she can benefit from and feel proud of.
The Kindergarten class of LCS (class of 2029!) had a moving up to 1st grade ceremony. All the Kindergarten classes participated in a processional to the stage where they recited poems, sang songs and had a video montage of the children's first year of school. Phoebe's eyes lit up like 4th of July as she walked down the center aisle to take her place on stage. She was so excited to be included in an event for her entire grade. I have never seen her smile so big!
And for as big as her smile was, mine was just as big. Tears gently rolled down my cheeks, most especially as I watched the video montage of the children's year at LCS and saw just how much Phoebe was able to be a part of.
There is still one week left of this school year, which means we have begun wondering what next year's school day will look like for Phoebe. But we will leave the wondering for tomorrow. Today, we are celebrating our almost 1st grader and a first we are so happy she was able to be a part of!