Monday, September 11, 2017

"The Talk"

It's been a very quiet time here, but not because it was quiet elsewhere. It was busy, at times crazy, and I felt like all I would do here was complain and that wasn't worth your time. So I stayed quiet.

No one is quiet today in America.

I woke up today, and the first thought I had was not `It's 9/11' and I think it may be the first one in 15 years where I didn't think about it the second I awoke. Is it that 15 years is the time it takes for the memories not to assault you the moment you are conscious, or that now that we have a dumpster fire "leading" the country, it isn't possible for 9/11 to be the first thing in our minds any more because we are too worried about healthcare, or immigration, or the integrity of our voting process, or education, or basically any facet of our day/life?

I wasn't looking forward to today because today I went in to Tucker's class to talk with them about Connor. I'm pleased to report that Tucker spoke a lot more this year, and far more openly, than he has in the past with his peers. They were all quiet and respectful (yay, Mrs. Ready!!) and had only a few questions. I'm really hoping that this is the last year Tucker needs me to come in with him to do this. Not because I won't, or don't want to, but because I want him to be confident enough in himself to feel free to talk about Connor and to answer questions about him without feeling like he needs an adult to explain everything.

I asked Tucker at the beginning today, "Would you call Connor your first best friend?" and he knit his eyebrows together and said, "Yes." and then proceeded to tell his class how affectionate he always was towards his brother. This is a true thing - he was ALWAYS affectionate towards Connor. Connor never got lip from Tucker. The only human to date who never got lip from Tucker. Another amazing thing in Connor's list of amazing things.