There is a Gift We Get From Teaching

As you look back on you  time spent teaching you should be able to smile as I can.
Teaching should never be something that's boring or follows a inflexible plan.
Its a matter of patience, love and respect and striving to help someone see how much they can do.
If its writing a check, knowing what's red, or simply to put on a shoe.
Some of the best things I've helped others learn happened as if almost by chance.
Some times they surprised me so much I gave a second or even third glance.

I tried for years to teach Mike M. to talk, "Please, wont you just say one word?"
Then one day on the bench in the office he said "Hi!" and I couldn't believe what I heard.
Day after day Rich word on brushing his teeth, seeing progress for us was hard.
Then one day Rich was teaching his toothbrushing skills to the dog out in house two's back yard.
He was talking as brushing the dog's teeth, "You brush the top and the bottom too!"
The dog was foamy. Rich said, "Now spit in the sink and Trish will be proud of you!"

You can see from these stories that sometimes you must look for the smallest things.
Some times teaching is a combination of persuasion and knowing how to pull the right strings.
The gift we get from teaching is simple not always obvious but there just the same.
It might be a smile saying thank you or the first time some one says your name.

©1990
 

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