Graduation Day

Micah has graduated, his 15 months at Summit Speech School have come to an end. 

And the good thing is that he behaved while marching in (with one hand on his hip, the other holding his partners hand) and while on stage.  He sang all three of the songs with the hand motions and when it was his turn at the microphone, he responded to the questions of how old is he and what is his favorite animal and why (four, and flamingo because of the way it walks) without being a goofball or uttering the word 'poop' or 'poopy' as part of the response.

He went to the persons presenting the certificates and shook hands, and then took a carnation from his teacher and brought it to me with his certificate, giving me a big hug.  I was so proud of him and how far he's come.

The school's director gave a speech that sounded a little bit like previous years:  graduation is more for the parents who have moved through learning their children were deaf or hearing impaired, the grief and uncertainty, getting help, having the children enter the programs at Summit and making it to this day.  Since Micah was chosen by us, microtia, atresia and all, it didn't feel like I was the intended audience.  No grief, no shock, it was more of a question of locating and accessing the resources to help him.

Micah wore a little white mortar board with an orange tassel, which he didn't want to put back on for pictures.  His teacher put together a photo album for each graduate along with a CD of the slide show of the school year.  We also got a packet of information for Micah's next speech therapist.  It was all really nice - I almost forgot for a few moment that all of the stuff would need to be packed up - including the giant monkey with "Congratulations Micah" that was hanging on the wall in the auditorium.

Congratulations to my big boy, who want from 'up' to talking in sentences and paragraphs in 35 months and thanks to the many people who played a part.

Tomorrow it's off to camp at Princeton Friends for both kids, summer has begun.