JUDAH IS TEN

Dear Judah,

TEN? TEN! TEN. I am a wreck with this double digit birthday. Happy Birthday, though, my sweet Judah Bean. This has been QUITE a year for you; one where you’ve been pretty much a science experiment. I want to get all this down so that we can go back and marvel at where you started and where you’ve come someday…

Science Experiment

I’ve been wondering for the past several years if there were more strategies to support your learning and behavior. Particularly with COVID messing with almost three of your school years, students everywhere were all over the place with different needs and adjustments and I think it was important that we let that all ride out. You have an angel for a teacher this year. Early on, she suggested a phone call and got the ball rolling with using this year, the last one in elementary school, to really dig into you to try and unearth anything that may be hindering your brightness. She adores you so much, Judah and it was apparent from those first few weeks. We’d been kind of waiting for that invitation, that push and so we got going right away. 

In November, you were diagnosed with ADHD and you began a medicine in mid December to help you sustain and focus for longer periods of time. I think there’s been a ton of positives from that– more understanding of how your brain works, more chances for us to learn, more people to work with you and care about you. In addition, your handwriting has ALWAYS been an issue… hard for you to read, hard for any adult to read. That got us to consult occupational therapy at school (again) which you didn’t qualify for (again). At the recommendation of our beloved pediatrician, Dr. Morin, she suggested we talk with Children’s Therapy Corner (where you first did speech) to see if outside therapy would be something we could do. This led us to a conversation with a wonderful woman whose last name was Disney (I kid you not). Through our talk, she had asked us about developmental optometry. You’ve had your eyes checked- you wear glasses, but apparently that is very much not the same thing. She, like Mrs. Sinila, was a huge gift to us this year that led us to an eye doctor’s office in downtown Eaton Rapids where you got diagnosed with ‘intermittent exotropia’ and ‘vertical strabismus.’ Basically she shared with us that your eyes have not been communicating with each other at all and she was shocked you were doing so well considering how hard your eyes were working just to see images together. You started vision therapy and it has helped things so much for you I think. Next week, you are going to a neuroscience place to get one last round of testing. We literally spent so much of the year with you as our subject and have learned so much. 

Your Attitude is So Bright

I say all that and that story matters for sure. But even more than what actually happened and how it all went down, is your continued positive attitude. You’ve had a lot of appointments, testing, medicine, etc and you’ve been smiling all along. I know it can’t be easy to have to do so much extra- you are an inspiration. You went to every appointment without push back and I think you truly can feel how many people care about you and are working with you to support you to shine your crown the brightest it can. None of that would be possible, though, if you weren’t on board too. We are so lucky you are an adaptable flexible human who goes along for the ride. I’ll never be able to tell you how helpful that’s been both for us and for you. I’m crying writing this. You are really something. 

What You Are Into

Besides all of this, which has taken up a lot of time and energy, you are approaching being in piano for almost a year. You’re starting to read notes! It’s so cool! I hope you stick with this. Playing with toys (and stuffed animals) remains your very favorite thing to do in the whole world. If we don’t see you, it’s likely you are in the basement lining up cars and laying down painters tape for a road. Or maybe you are doing an art class for Preston. Or you may be orchestrating an adventure for Winnie and Arfy and Yellow Guy. You are such a wonderful person of play. You never tire from it. When you’re not doing that, it’s likely you are outside in any weather enjoying nature. You love to bike and scooter, write with chalk and jump on the trampoline. You are always game to be outside. The Dog Man series are your favorite books. You much prefer a graphic novel over a chapter book.  

When you and I spend time together, we are often reading together, working on school work (which this year has been math, math, math) or I’m over the moon when you’ll play a game with me. With Nolan, you like to hang out with neighbors and friends or spend time after bedtime talking about your days. You two are beautiful together and have an outpouring of love that is so noticeable. With Carter, you love to play together in the basement with any myriad of things. You two either get along so amazingly or are at each other’s throats; there is rarely an in between with the two of you. Preston LOVES playing with you so much. Your love of trucks, cars, and stuffed animals is always right up his alley. The other morning he brought me a picture of him and I that you helped him make during your art class. It was amazing.   

This year, your style has kicked up a notch. We can still expect you to dress up for special events like when an author came to visit your school or when your class went on a field trip to the capital. You’ve been wearing monochrome outfits a lot. Mondays you usually wear all red. Wednesday is Wolf Pack Wednesday and you are maroon from head to toe. You’ve also been wearing one white sock and one black sock lately. You are unapologetically you. 

Hopes for Next Year

Next year, as we enter middle school, I have many hopes for you. One is that you’ll continue to work hard and advocate for yourself if you need help or extra time or a different environment to learn. You know I am always here to help. Another is that you’ll make some amazing new friends. You are a friend to everyone and I’m hoping you’ll find some that really feel like close friends to YOU. I think it’s great that you want to try band and I hope you love it! Finally, I hope that we can work together to stay organized and help you manage time and focus. You and I used to have a really hard time working together and I think we’ve made HUGE gains with that. We are a really good team. 

What a year it’s been. Your smiling face and good attitude has made it SO much better. I am really proud to know you. Happy Birthday!

Love you no matter what,

Mama