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| ©Darrell Wyatt |
I got a call from my youngest son's first grade teacher yesterday. She told me that he has finished all of the first grade readers, and can't go on to the second grade readers, so she was going to start sending home some hard back books as "fillers" for the rest of the school year. When I asked her why he couldn't go on to the second grade readers, she told me that there were two reasons. The first reason was that all second graders start in the same place, and he shouldn't be ahead of them. The second reason was that she didn't want any of the other first graders to feel pressured to keep up with him or feel bad that they aren't also reading second grade books. I'm not going to lie. My head almost exploded right then and there. My son was going to be punished for being ahead. I told her that I'd really like him to move on, and she said that she'd meet with the second grade teachers and see if any of them had a problem with him starting their grade ahead of the rest of the class. I was completely flabbergasted. What teacher would honestly have a problem with a child who needed to learn at their own pace? And then I remembered that I have been on the other side of this coin. My special needs son was pushed through elementary school, with teachers giving him undeserved passing grades just to move him along. Finally, he had a teacher that cared enough to let me know that he wasn't going to make it if we didn't do something right then. And so we did.
So I've been pondering what to do about my first grader's situation. I know that something needs to be done, but I don't know what. I decided to pray about it last night and this morning. And then, as I was reading today's chapter, I came across something. It wasn't a complete solution to my problem, but more like the voice of my Heavenly Father telling me how to handle the situation.
Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness. (Alma 38:12)
It was as if He knew exactly what I needed to hear, right at that moment. I have been very concerned about being seen as an overbearing mother - you know, the kind that thinks her kid is perfect and much more deserving and intelligent than the rest of the class. I know that I need to use boldness to make sure that my little guy isn't left behind, but I can do it without being overbearing. I really do need to bridle my passions, as well. No matter what happens, I must make sure that I'm not angry when I speak to the teacher, and let her feel that I appreciate all that she does do for my son. And refrain from idleness. Get to work!!
I know that all of my prayers are answered, whether it be immediate or delayed according to God's timetable. I've always known that. But today was a powerful lesson to me that there is no prayer that is too trivial for Him. If it's important to me, it's important to Him, and He will give me what I need. For that I am ever grateful.
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