I think it is fair to say, Mr. Reader, that over the years, I have devoted a hefty bit of energy to worrying about Liam’s academic performance. This year his report cards have given Brent and I a huge sense of relief, however. He is thriving in Middle School with high grades and really positive comments from teachers.
After this weekend, I am completely convinced that none of that matters. We are celebrating a young who is becoming himself even if that means rejecting norms. Thursday night we received an email from Ms. Grabowski, Liam’s ELA teacher. She wanted to share Liam’s response to a writing prompt with us. She wrote:
Hi Mr. and Mrs. Conley,
I am currently grading some quick-writes that my kids were working on this week. One of their prompts [basically] asks them to think of a gift they could give anyone in the world, and explain why they would give that gift.
When I do this prompt, most 8th graders write about how they would buy physical, tangible things for themselves, their friends, and their family members. Things like new sneakers, iPhones, boats, and fancy cars are usually the norm.
Liam took this activity to a new level that I wanted to share with you. Liam wrote about how he’d like to give the gift of a cure for cancer. He wrote about his friend’s father who is facing this difficulty, and I was truly speechless to read about such a selfless act of kindness for him to want to share for his friend’s father. It is so nice to have such a sense of empathy from him, I appreciated reading this kindness in his writing today very much.
I just wanted to share this moment of pride for his selflessness- he is such a thoughtful kid and wanted you to hear it from me!
——
Melinda Grabowski
(she/her)
8th Grade ELA – MMS
Currently Reading: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
I read it out loud at the dinner table, through proud tears. Liam’s chest swelled while Ellie, Brent and Dylan applauded him. By taking the time to email us about this Ms. Grabowski positioned Liam’s kindness as an act of strength in a world where he gets so many messages that he should be tougher or more competitive. She validated him and gave him a chance to be celebrated. I could not be prouder of my kids and this was a perfectly timed reminder to find ways to celebrate them for all the ways that make them special.