When the school’s number flashes on my phone screen, I can’t help but feel that familiar tightness in my chest. Five years of conditioning don’t fade easily. My mind automatically travels back to the day when my four-year-old son, in a burst of frustration, pulled out his friend’s cochlear implant. I can still feel the weight of those tears as I sat listening to yet another incident report. I was at a loss.
That was then.
Now, as I reach for my phone, I remind myself to breathe. The past five years have been a marathon of sorts – over 300 hours of therapy sessions, countless psychiatric appointments, and endless moments of focused determination. Slowly but surely, we’ve been rewriting our story.
These days, I get to see more of the real Wesley: a charismatic nine-year-old with an infectious laugh who can spend hours gaming, never turns down ice cream, and has mastered the art of making people laugh. It’s as if a fog has lifted this year.
When the latest email from school arrived, I braced myself out of habit. But instead of the usual concerns, I found myself reading and rereading words I never expected: Wesley had been nominated for the Proud Python award for safety, responsibility, and respectfulness.
Walking into the gymnasium for the ceremony felt surreal. I felt that at any moment someone would realize there had been a mistake.
Then came the best moment – Wesley was called up to stand next to the other award winners for the month. And halfway to the front of the gymnasium, my silly guy broke into the ‘gritty’ dance. The children in the audience cheered even louder.
And at that moment, watching my dancing boy and hearing the genuine delight of his peers, I felt such pride. The path ahead might not be perfect, but we’ve found our footing.
We’re going to be more than okay. He’s going to be extraordinary.
Victory & Peace
JM
Defeating the OCD Flea 