"Student of the Month" Club

[Jodi]

For years and years I'd see those bumper stickers on cars, mini vans, SUV's. New and old cars with shiny stickers exclaiming to the world of a child who met a certain criteria to be accepted into the exclusive sticker club. "Who cares?" I would tell myself. It's just a silly sticker.

Having one child with ADHD, and another with DS, it seemed an impossibility for my kids to get ANY awards. One child couldn't sit still long enough to earn one, and the other child... well, if you knew Ryan and his behaviors, it just didn't seem possible (sigh).

It's funny how silly things like stickers and awards can make you feel like an inadequate parent sometimes. I know better, but there are days it would get to me. I would talk to friends and hear of special Principal Awards given to children, special banquets held in honor of exceptional children. I would take pride in my children's accomplishments even in the absence of stickers.

But now what do I do?




Ryan got "Student of the Month" for academics in math. Yes, he is below grade level. But I guess he made such tremendous progress that he indeed earned an award. How will I ever live with myself?

[laurasmom]

You congratulate Ryan, you fix his favorite foods for dinner, maybe get a couple of balloons, some streamers or something. And you celebrate what you already knew, that you have one special guy there!


WTG Ryan, we are proud of you!!!!

Sharon

[katiesmom]

Congratulations to Ryan! How wonderful that his teachers acknowledged the progress he has made! And how does it feel to be the one with the new bumper-sticker?

Deane

[damarasmom]

That is such wonderful news! Nice to see that they acknowledged him and all his hard work! Way to go!!!

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Well how about that!!! Way to go Ryan What a handsome young man you have.
Jennifer

[lorraine]

Yeah !!!!!!! Well done to Ryan ;D ;D
Lovely photo's too

Lorraine

[Emilysmom]

WTG Ryan!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing this with us.
Susan

[Jodi]

Thank you all Ryan was super happy about the whole thing. I get the most enjoyment not in having Ryan receive of the award, but in watching Ryan BEAM with pride!! After he got the award, he sat down with his class. He would look over at me and hold up his award with a HUGE smile on his face, then give me the "thumbs up" sign. I was somewhat annoyed with how the Principal treated Ryan a bit differently when he got up as compared to other children, but oh well, the rest was cool.

[andrewsmom]

I say bumper sticker away!!!!!!! That is so awesome! He deserves to feel proud of himself. Thanks so much for sharing.

-Trisha

[ALLISA]

I won't hold it against you Jodi ;D

Congratulations !! and huge applause to Ryan !!

[Chris]

Congratulations, Ryan!

Jodi, I know exactly how you feel. I also have one child with ADHD with a LD and one with Ds. My daughter with ADHD is a senior in HS now and has been on the honor roll for the past two years. We have come a long way since she almost failed 6th grade. ;D

Chris

[Debbie]

I think that is great! Why don't you make your own sticker? You could show off your pride and love that way.

[laurasnowbird]

Well isn't that just the coolest thing EVER?? Congrats darlin'!

Just keep raising that bar......!

[Jodi]

It's time to buy some Lotto tickets. I guess the older child was awarded Student of the Month for the 10th grade class... what is the world coming to? LOL!! Both kids for the same month - what are the odds? (I know, don't ask such questions)

Thanks for the congrats.

Jodi

[Emilysmom]

WTG to Jodi's kids!!! That's wonderful news!