Always Set High Expectations! Braxton’s Best of All

Hello all! As the Playhouse Manager I try to know as much about all aspects of Playhouse operations and this includes programming goals. While I may know the goals and encourage other parents to follow, sometimes I admit I do not! Shame on me, right?!

One of those goals is to instill high expectations for each participant. As a parent to a child with special needs we all have those days that we find it easier to just do that thing we are asking of our child, or maybe our expectations are lowered because it simply has been one of those days. What I realized during a recent literacy session with Braxton and his amazing tutor Tammy is that just because he is having one of those days doesn’t mean he cannot still meet those high expectations.

After spending close to 5 hours in a car and 2 hours at a doctor’s appointment, Braxton was visibly tired a I would say a bit irritable…who wouldn’t be? I texted Tammy prior to his literacy giving her a “FYI, Braxton will likely be a bear today”! Well, Braxton blew us away, he was able to engage with minimal redirection for the full hour, he matched upper- and lower-case letters A – J and was able to connect the word duck to an image of a duck for the first time! What an amazing Best of All!

Ultimately, what I realized in that moment is that Braxton is smart, capable and totally does not need me to lower any expectations of him EVER! Tammy, his tutor, is awesome for finding things that engage him, yet recognize when he may need a brain break…Thank You Tammy! And boy does he know how to celebrate!

Erica,

Braxton’s Biggest Fan