The Po Show

"The Three Friends"

Matthew had a fabulous week last week. All week he was in the best mood, happy, chatty. His teacher commented on it, the afterschool coordinator commented on it.

He had, on the spur of the moment, decided to put together a puppet show at afterschool care (called KED, kindergarten extended day). He enlisted the help of first one little girl, then two others, then a whole group of kids who all wanted to participate. He organized participants, he assigned tasks, he came up with a story line (the puppet show was called "The Three Friends"). There were sign up sheets and props and backgrounds. It turned into a three part, three day event! At first Matthew thought that he would charge everyone who wanted to take part, but then he decided that they could participate for free.

The first part was last Wednesday. Matthew handed out puppets, assigned roles, served cups of water to the audience, and then narrated the puppet show. It was a resounding success, so they decided to have another the next day. Even more kids wanted to be a part of the show. Matthew was giddy with how well it went. He said he wished he could go to KED the next day or on Monday so they could do the final, and best, installment of the show.

This was astonishing to hear, that he wished he could go to KED on additional days. Many of you will remember how difficult it was for him earlier in the year (even as recently as February), how we were asked to more than one conference, how they wanted us to hire an aide to shadow him in the room because he was so disruptive and was hurting other kids. We had wanted to transition him into afternoon care, but they told us "they wouldn't recommend it." I was afraid they were going to kick him out all together. We rearranged our schedules so that he only had to go to KED three days a week. I hated that he was so unhappy there, that it was so hard for him.

And here he was, not just taking part in activities but actually organizing them, talking about his friends, being so excited and happy. Coupled with the wonderful team meeting yesterday, I'm just amazed at how much progress he's made this year. It's unbelievable.

Of course I feel a terrible sense of guilt (you knew this couldn't be all positive, right? :p) that we're taking him away from all these kids he's finally comfortable with and throwing him yet again into a new environment and a new set of transitions. He's worked so hard, and suffered so much, and now he's not getting to enjoy the payoff for very long.

Yesterday was the final act of "The Three Friends," and Matthew said it was great. Everyone had a fun time. Especially Matthew.