Vera is a very vocal little girl. She never misses an opportunity to share. She is a great advocate for things she is passionate about. She is one little girl who is always heard. This serves her well. She's diabetic and sometimes she has to fight to get what she needs. People don't always understand the seriousness of a diabetic emergency and if she didn't say hey I need this and I need it now and I won't stop until I get it she would find herself at time to be in a world of hurt.
Vera has many passions and she just loves to share them with everyone. She is well aware that her youngest brother is autistic. She asks many questions, often. And to be honest sometimes I find myself annoyed. I don't always have the answers and sometimes the answers are bigger than she is and I am not always comfortable answering. But always I try my best to be open and honest with the big kids. If they have questions, they need answers. So we roll with the punches.
Parent teacher conferences were this evening. When I met with Vera's teacher the first thing she said was, "She's great as always." And with her awesome report card I wasn't worried about her academics at all. Sometimes though I worry about her in social situations. She is a full year younger than her peers and because of diabetes she shoulders more responsibility than most kids. She has always been my mini grown up, so I like to check in with her teacher to make sure she is thriving socially as well. And she is always fine. But I'm the mommy, it's my job to worry.
Her teacher shared a moment with me. Vera is very excited about a fund raiser that Dave has set up that is happening in August ( http://www.facebook.com/elihopsforhope?sk=info ). It isn't just about raising funds, it's about raising autism awareness. Vera got up in front of her class and told them excitedly all about Eli Hops. She told them that her youngest brother is on the spectrum and what that means for him and for our family. Her teacher said she explained it all with grace and pride. She told everyone the details of the Eli Hops event happening in August and hoped that everyone would come. After Vera was done, a young man in her class raised his hand. When the teacher called on him he said, "I have what her brother has. Yeah. Me too."
The teacher explained that that was a very proud moment for her. She struggles to help the spectrum kids in her classroom (it's an integrated room with 5-6 spectrum kids in it) be a part of the room and not be outcast by their peers because she really wishes to respect their privacy and their space and she encourages them and hopes that they will share when they are ready. She said when he shared she tried to ask him questions but he just didn't feel he had the answered. But it was like all the other kids just got it and no one has questioned him or seemed to think he's "weird" since.
Vera's attitude about autism is amazing. She doesn't see it as a problem or a bad thing. She talks about it in a positive light. I think it's great that Vera is proud of Eli and that she is able to share with anyone and everyone AND that it helped someone else share and be more openly accepted. It's a pretty cool thing; awareness and acceptance.
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