The school year is over. Can you believe it? It went by so fast! Yet when I looked at the pictures of Dan from the beginning of the year I could tell he grew so much!

At the End of the Year Celebration Alex and I came to the classroom with treats to have one last chat with the teachers and the other parents. We wanted to thank the teacher and the staff for all their hard work. These people who work with our kids really pour their heart and soul into their work. It is good to remind them that we know and appreciate it.

After we each got a plate and while Dan was walking back and forth to the dessert table, I had a chance to talk to one of the class aids. I never got to do that - it was always the teacher or the psychologist. I causally asked her about her plans for the summer and she told me she herself has a child with special needs. She will be sending the summer helping transitioning him to a different school.

Her son's condition is different and may seem more simple than the kids in Dan's class. Yet she asked me - "how come I can make these kids talk, but not him?!" She was referring to the successes they have had with the kids at Dan's class during the year. With her own son she felt like a failure.

We were suddenly two mothers talking and not a mother and a staff member. While I was trying to comfort and encourage her about how it will all turn out - and while I reminded her that our kids will do things for others that they do not do for us! - I realized how much we have in common with the people who are caring for our kids. How much beyond the wish that our kids will do well. We want our kids to be treated and taught by the best professionals. In Dan's case our wish has been granted for a while now. This was a reminder of how much more we have in common with them.

We are all parents. We are all people. And it is nice to go beyone the barriers and it is nice to forget our 'parts' and jobs in this, and just be the real people we are.

When I was talking to her I could almost hear Dan thinking - that's it, mom, stop talking about me and how I am doing and just BE for a while.

I will, boy. I promise.