I Did it Again

[Theresa Franklin]

I know you are not going to believe this, but I have done it again.  I have been
doing it for 26 years.  You would think I would have learned my lesson by
now.

What did I do?  I fell in love.  I substituted
for a teacher who had a death in the family and when I walked into the room, I
saw a desk in the back away from all the others.  The teacher showing me where
my instructions were said, "That's Donnie's desk.  He cannot sit by the other
students."

When Donnie entered the classroom, I walked over to
meet him.  The first words out of his mouth told me that he had a speech
impairment and was a little slow mentally.  Some time during those two days I
fell in love with him.  In my years as an educator, I have always seemed to fall
in love with the behaviorally challenged.  Donnie is one the sweetest little
boys I have ever known.  Yes, he has some behavior issues.  But when I applied a
little love, the sweet child emerged.  With a little extra love, patience,
guidance, and structure a behaviorally challenged child will show the child deep
within but afraid to come out. 

Do you deal with a child that is behaviorally
challenged?  I urge you to take the extra steps to show this child how special
he or she is.  It is well worth the extra work.