And then my heart burst right there in room 607...

Last night was open house at Bug's school. Being his first year at this school and in the gifted program I was a little unsure as to what to expect when I got there. I arrived right on time at 6:30 to find the door to the classroom locked and the inside dark. Luckily there was another mom outside who informed me it didn't start until 7:00. I'm sure that memo is at the bottom of Bug's backpack or perhaps floating around his school bus.

So I waited in the dense South Florida humidity with this other mom who was somewhat friendly but mostly busied herself with her cell phone. Still, I was thankful someone was nice to me.

At 6:45 another mom and her (very quiet) husband showed up. She obviously knew cell phone mom and they seemed very happy to see each other and instantly began asking how their kids were. Gossip about other moms, the gifted program at another elementary school, and past teachers ensued. I half-listened and half-wondered if all the parents would already know each other from having their kids in gifted since kindergarten and I would be somehow trying to join this elite gifted parents club without knowing all the rituals and jargon.

Luckily the classroom door opened and we were allowed in. Before we got all settled in, Bug's teacher pulled me aside and asked to speak with me privately.

Oh, no. I know Bug's been having problems getting his work done and she's going to tell me that maybe the gifted program isn't right for him and I'm going to have to put him back in regular school and he's going to suffer some incredible self-esteem problems because of it!

When we sat down in a darkened neighboring classroom, Mrs. Teacher's eyes started to well up. I sat there, horrified, wondering what she would say.

"I've been teaching for so many years, and every once in a while a child comes along that touches my heart in such a way that I can't explain it. I love your son. He is an amazing boy and he is so smart!"

I watched as tears spilled on to this woman's face. This woman who I have met quickly once before and who is having such strong emotions about my first born son.

"I know he is having problems finishing his work. He is always the last to finish and writing is hard for him. I asked him in the beginning of the year what other teachers did for him when he took so long to write and he told me..."

More tears.

"He told me that they just screamed at him."

This is right. His 1st and 2nd grade teachers both screamed at him and we had many a parent/teacher conference about Bug's inability to finish essays in a reasonable amount of time. It was incredibly frustrating and difficult for his teachers, Bug, and me.

"I promised him I would never scream at him. We will get through this. Bug is right where he should be."

I could have hugged that woman right there... and I'm not sure why I didn't, actually. I have never been so happy to have a teacher in my child's life. I feel like finally, my son who has struggled with school and who obviously thinks differently than most other kids and who shocks me with his verbal skills and analytical brain, he has found a safe place and a teacher that will do what needs to be done to help him.