Down the Block

You know how certain circumstances just fall into your lap that strike you so instantly that you start thinking that they are there to teach you something about yourself?  Well, this new situation feels just like that and I can't believe it took me more than a minute to see it.

Maybe it's because I've been so frustrated with the students I've been tutoring lately that's it's hard not to see anything but red everywhere I go.  First, I was dropped by one client after helping their son finally pass Math.  Next I was stood up by three clients who took one session and changed their minds, and then I had to  deal with a 6 year old Pepsi drinkin' only child who would rather tell me stories about his parakeet "pooping and pissing" then sit for more than two seconds to try to sound out words. 

But then I veered into a quaint path leading into a shaded park with a peaceful pond.  I finally discovered the dream student.  A third grade perfectionist who switched out of the gifted program because he he freezes up whenever he has to write. What?  Is this kid related to me?  Can you say deja vu?  Add in the fact that he has sensitivities to death and his father and is seeing a counselor for anger management and I might as well be looking in the mirror when I look at this sweet, little nerd.  He even knows that you don't capitalize small words in a title!  He's 8.  No 8 year old cares about that let alone remembers it!  We speak the same language. Hell, he's probably even more evolved than me as I could probably benefit from some good ol' expressing some of my repressed anger therapy. 

Let's just say I relate to the boy and am more motivated then I have been in a while to help him get over his lack of confidence.  I can't tell you how many times I labored over every word I put down on paper because I didn't think it was good enough.  I still do.  But there was one person who patiently sat down up with me, guided me through the process, and helped me put down my ideas.  It was because of my mother that my 5th grade teacher read my tale of a  wayward pioneer family traveling west to the whole class as an example of "excellent descriptive writing", ( I never missed an episode of  Little House on the Prairie), and made me believe that my imagination and feelings were had value.  It cultivated an interest in writing and there were many other stories and speeches after that gave an otherwise quiet girl a voice.

I know, very sappy but this little four eyed geek speaks to me.  Not only because he's so worried about making a mistake but because I know what it's like when your emotions are constantly getting the better of you, (aka my life story).  What's even stranger is that he lives down the street from me and I don't even know him.  My son and I played monkey in the middle with his older brother once, (six years ago) and watched him cry as he refused to get on the bus his first day of school.  I remember thinking how glad I was not to be his parent and now he's a part of my weekly schedule.

I may not understand how it is that our paths crossed but I do know that he couldn't have found a more fitting advocate. He's so much better than the class that he's in that I can't let him have his insecurities run the show.  He belongs in a gifted program.  I have a feeling that working with him will teach me as well.