I Want To Raise The Nice Kid – Finding Cooper’s Voice

He was a remote learner. His classes were conducted via zoom.

It didn’t go well for him.

He struggled to sit and pay attention to a screen.

At the end of second grade we learned that his reading and math scores were way below grade average.

Administration said…‘don’t worry about it. All of the kids are behind.’

For third grade we sent him to a smaller parochial school.

I held my breath as I sat across from his teacher at his fall conference.

She told me about his reading. And his math. She showed me handwriting samples and test scores and art projects.

‘He watches,’ she said. ‘He watches for his peers who need friends. Or who have no one to play with.’

‘He seeks kids out who have differences.’

Truly. The tears fell from my eyes.

‘Don’t worry about the reading and math. It will come. Sawyer has already learned something that most kids take years to learn. Or never learn. He is accepting.’

That conference changed me as a mom.

I want to raise the nice kid. The kind kid. The kid who helps. The kid who accepts. The kid who sees.