Some days, morning drop off goes more smoothly than others. On this particular past Monday, it was one of those days that did not go smoothly. I will be the first to admit that I was pushing a lot into the morning routine and was a bit behind schedule for my own morning rhythm. This obviously affects the kids. Kids are so perceptive about our energy. They can walk into the room and sense when the energy is rushed or a bit stressed.
I thought we had made it… we ended up getting to school on time but then… that is when things went sideways. The mask that I had packed had a hole in it. That obviously would not do and the backup mask just was not cutting it for my dear child. We then turned to big sister to please let her little brother borrow one of her beloved new masks. There was hesitance. There was stubbornness. There was pleading (on my part). Moral lessons were quickly being pontificated from the driver seat “please set a good example for your brother and show him what you would want him to do in this situation.” I was starting to lose patience. The clock was ticking. It felt like the start of a race, you need to tie a double knot in your running shoe and sweat starts beading up on your forehead- it needs to happen fast but you move too quickly and you must start all over. I took one last deep breath, the stars aligned, and sister loaned her little brother the mask and the sweet aide who was gathering kids from the car line was trying to smooth over the situation and gently thank big sister for loaning her brother the mask.
So why am I sharing this? As I drove away, all I could think of was how valuable this situation would be for school personnel (teachers, aides, OTs, speech therapists, behavior therapists) to witness and gain some insight into how the student’s morning started off. This must happen far more often than it doesn’t. I know I am not alone here in the morning hustle.
Now speaking as an OT and not just as mother, we can learn so much about our students when we observe these parts of the school day. It is not just the events that happen at school that shape and affect our students. It is the night before, the breakfast that was eaten, the rush to get out of the door, the internal monologue that the student might be having about possibly not wanting to go to school that day. If we can be at the morning car line some days to greet our students, or check in with parents on the day that we work with them, we can add to the holistic nature of the services we provide.
And speaking as a mom, deep breaths. Lots and lots of deep breaths is what it takes some (ok, most days!)
