So Here's a Funny Story

About a year and a half ago, I sign Riley up for a gym class. It is wonderful and I'm not just saying that because I now work at the school that runs it but because it is truly a great class. There is a trampoline, tons of ramps and things to climb on, tents, caves, monkey bars, you name it, they've got it. It's got better stuff than Gymboree and costs half as much because it is done through Adult Ed here in California.

And Riley loves everything about it.

And he especially loves his Teacher Cindy. His older brother had her too a few years ago and his love also endures today. Teacher Cindy is the kind of teacher everyone wishes their child could have. She is patient, encouraging, loving and warm. Her enthusiasm endears her to everyone. She is a favorite. And she's been teaching this class for a long time. She's fabulous.

So the first day of class, Riley is scurrying around running through tunnels and hiding in nooks, climbing ladders and whatnot and this other Mom in the class takes one look at him and his helper hand, grasps her chest and lets out this obnoxious gasp.

"WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?!!" she exclaims.

I calmly answered her, "Nothing happened to him, he was born with a little arm."

Then she says really loudly, "SHOULD HE EVEN BE IN THIS CLASS?!!!!"

And I kept my voice calm and softly replied, "Yes, he can do anything anyone else can do."
And I left it at that.

Riley enjoyed his time in the class, I enjoyed my time in the class and the woman left us alone after that. There was still some chest clutching and gasps when she saw him every week but she kept it to a minimum and Riley could have cared less anyway.

Now lets flash forward to this summer. I taught a summer school class and Riley was in it. On the first day, a woman in my class walks up to me and says, "I know you, our kids were in Gym together."

It's the same woman, the yeller and gasper from Gym class. Internally, I rolled my eyes just a little. The Drama Mama.

I smiled, "Oh yes. I remember you too."
She looked at me warily.

And you know what? My little Riley became best friends with her daughter. Those two were tight all summer. And after about the second week of school that mom came back to me.
"Wow! Riley is really a great kid and he can do anything!"

And I just smiled and said, "Yes. Yes. He really is. And yes he really can."

And we left it at that.

And we had a great six weeks together.

And yesterday, I had the chance to tell Teacher Cindy the story and she wasn't aware of what had happened in the class so long ago but she smiled at the ending and said, "I have the feeling that Riley is going to be teaching a lot of people lessons. He may have a limb difference, but there is nothing disabled about that kid."

And I think she's right, heck I know she's right.

Sometimes I worry that being a teacher of those kinds of lessons is a daunting task for a three-year-old. But he is just living his life. If others learn a thing or too from the things my kid can do, then that's just gravy at this point.

I'm just so proud of that kid.