Mistletoe, Merriment, and Unsung Heroes

12th Annual Mistletoe and Merriment Concert

Last night a child named "Cisco", whose favorite thing to do is "throw stuff down" got to walk across the stage using his walker, throwing down gifts to the tune of "Mr. Grinch"....until finally Cisco and his entourage made it to the Christmas Tree, a very, very large, heavily decorated Christmas tree, and to the delight of Cisco (who by the way, could barely even get out of his wheelchair 4 years ago), and the even greater merriment of the audience, Cisco, the Grinch, threw down the enormous Christmas tree and laughed!!

Then Missy Worden, the world's best music therapist, who just happens to work for Fulton County Schools, announced the next act, two students in 5th grade who have known and loved each other for years. Missy explained to the audience (another full house, by the way) that these 2 special needs students always missed each other when one was absent, and just were blue without each other. Missy sadly explained they would be in middle school next year, so this would be their last time in the Woodland Elementary School's famous concert, Mistletoe and Merriment, and then opened the curtain.

They sat happily on high stools in full hippie costume, a beautiful boy and girl, and lip-synched "I Got You Babe" (well actually they were singing along pretty robustly) to an entranced audience of parents of special needs kids, special education teachers and parapros, and whoever else has managed to figure out that this really is the best Christmas Concert in the whole world. Needless to say, they got an enthusiastic standing ovation and thoroughly enjoyed their song in the limelight, their last song as a pair in that wonderful concert we get every year.

When Tommy first got diagnosed, we were so devastated...and it took a couple of years to really recover from the loss of "our" dreams for him. But when your child is diagnosed with a disability, you meet a better class of people. They, along with fellow parents and the good Lord, show you you are not alone, and proceed to not only teach but really LOVE your child. They are not whiners (special ed teachers are the toughest, most practical people you will ever meet), they are not whimperers...they, their parapros, the therapists, really appreciate our kids and not only love but accept and even embrace their differences. Diversity.

And they have no patience with whiny parents who feel sorry for themselves, nor should they. Your child is a gift, they seem to say, embrace him, love him, and live your life. And they teach us to do just that. Although sometimes they would surely like to give us, the parents, a spanking to hurry up the process.

All the while teaching kids like Cisco quietly with strength and patience to walk. Teaching kids like the Sonny and Cher pals to take care of themselves, and teaching kids like my Tommy, to talk. And teaching ALL of these kids to sing, dance, and celebrate the holidays in a beautiful annual performance. They are unsung heroes...who teach our children to sing.

So thank you Missy and all the teachers and paras, for teaching our children to sing, and once again making the best concert in the whole wide world (Mistletoe and Merriment) happen for the 12th time! We love you!! And we DO know you are heroes.