Thank You and Happy Birthday!
May 9, 2006
Dear Spiff’s Teacher,
First off, allow me to wish you a happy birthday. I know you are really only turning 25, and are trying to make me feel better by saying you are actually turning older than that. I can’t thank you enough for that, because when I stop and think about how much older I am compared to many people I have met and worked with these days, it makes me want to crawl back under the sheets and never come out again. Add to that the gray hairs I keep seeing, and well, a prescription for Prozac might be in order. So thank you for the honest fibs. You are a true friend, and a real pretty one too.
Now, on to the big, huge thank you. I can not adequately express my sincere thanks for all the hard work you have done this year in regards to Spiff and his IEP. Without your help, support, and concern for his well being, this last year in Elementary School would have been incredibly horrific. It is because of your influence on him, and me, that we are both looking forward to Middle School and all of the ups and downs that await us. It has made me so sad and so frustrated that we two seemed to be the only ones at school who “got” Spiff, and know what needs to be done to help him. It would have been nice to have had everyone on our “team” lend a helping hand this year. Alas, that was not to be. If we had any other teacher besides you this year, things would have gone unchecked, forgotten, and missed. I’m so grateful they were not, and that you were his teacher.
I also thank you for being patient with me this year. I know I can be (a little) overbearing at times, and probably more “hands on” in my son’s education than most teachers are accustomed to. Thank you for gently reminding me of some ground rules about how precious teachers’ time can be, and that sometimes I just have to sit back and watch Spiff and marvel at his abilities. In my relentless pursuit of making sure Spiff gets a quality education, I can sometimes forget that I am truly not the one in the drivers seat anymore. I’ve become the navigator. Your words of help and hope and reassurance have buoyed me this year in so many ways. Thank you for that.
Thank you for working with me and for bringing out the best in my son. We will miss you next year, but you will always have a special place in our hearts and in our memories.
You embody the qualities of what an exceptional teacher is. Please continue to reach and inspire and educate our children. You are wonderful.
Spiff’s Mom
