I hate being one of those people who, every year, says "This is the best one ever - really!" but that is how I have felt about Ian's teachers starting with Pre-K, taking only one year off during kindergarten when I could definitively say that it was not the best, and then re-uniting with this overtly Pollyanna sentiment in first grade. But this year is really it - the pinnacle. Her name is Ms. Tolsma, and Matthew paid her what I think is the highest compliment you could give someone about their chosen profession: "She always looks like she's having such a good time." If someone said that about me at work, I would be thrilled (and also think they were slightly dotty). But I digress.
We met with Ms. Tolsma last week to talk about Ian, and if I could have taped the conference I would have just for the pleasure of hitting re-play over and over.
Here are just a few things she said:
"As a teacher, when you get a child like Ian in your class, you feel so lucky. It changes the whole tone of the room. Ian really wants everyone to feel good all of the time, and his actions and words really impact the other kids. They see Ian being nice to everyone, and it affects them, makes them more nice too."
"Ian is very smart. He is like a walking encyclopedia - it's amazing how many things he has information about."
"I know that more than anything, Ian wants so much to do a good job."
It wasn't all sunshine and light, of course, because the main topic Matthew and I wanted to talk about was how easily Ian is distracted from his tasks, and what we should do about helping him be more successful. But she had story after story about how Ian was every bit the creative, kind, intelligent little boy we know him to be, and it made me feel like she really got essence of my kid. Next week, next month, and forever more (especially when I'm old) I hope I always remember to see him the way I do on my most loving and best day - the way that a thoughtful and sweet third grade teacher would.
