Mila's First Day of School

Today was the big day...Mila's first day of school!  My girly was blessed to be able to attend one of only two special needs schools in the country of Albania. I understand she attended daily through the school year and had great exposure to life skills training and community engagement. This is something that many, most really, children with special needs in 2nd & 3rd world countries do not get access to. Because of that exposure, Mila has incredible confidence in navigating skills around the house and community--beyond that of many of her typical peers of the same age. Academics, however was not something she has had access to. Reading, writing, math, even basic colors, shapes and numbers are all things that have been brand new to her since gaining a family.  And boy oh boy is she soaking it up!!  Just this week she managed a spelling puzzle (with lower case English letters) and quickly created her first reading words: hat, cat, dog and not to be missed...cake!

Mila's team at school have been eager to plan and help make her transition as smooth as possible, fully understanding that the needs that entered the building today will certainly not be the same kiddo in 6 months--she is just learning too darn fast! We've met and discussed and planned and visited and resourced as much as we could all for today.  Three and half hours with her new classmates a world away from all she has ever known...

She was a bit nervous last night when I walked her through the next day's schedule: school without Mommy (seems I had failed to mention that detail in all our preparations!), but she woke this morning ready to go. Excited to have her school shirt on, a back pack and her own lunch. Isaac and I cautiously walked her into her classroom to which she boldly declared "Bye, Mommy. See you tomorrow!"  Oh, uh...bye honey. I love you. Have fun?

Per our plan, I returned three hours later to join her class for lunch and take her home for the day.  Nope.  She wasn't ready to leave!  Okkkkk. 

So left her with a kiss on her head and a promise to return in another three hours. "Ok Mommy. Bye".  Alrighy...

This was the face I picked up from her first day of school. Bright, happy and absolutely ECSTATIC that she got to sing Let It Go in music class.  "Mommy. School good!  Music. Let it go! Tomorrow. School!"

Her first school project absolutely CRACKS. ME. UP.  Her teachers are aware of her kitchen-phobia but when they offered her several visual cues about her favorite part of Christmas break (family, tree, presents, cooking, snow, etc) she very clearly pointed to the kitchen then proceeded to draw an oven & stove!  So either, she enjoyed NOT having to go in the kitchen or she is particularly fond of my cooking..I'm choosing to believe the later. 

It was a full day for my girl but she succeeded. First day of school at nearly 14 years old, in a different country, in a different language.  Wowzers.  She had some much needed quiet time. Picked out her outfit for tomorrow and fell asleep with a big smile on her face. "Mommy. School tomorrow?"  Yes, Mila. School tomorrow. <3  May you always be this excited about learning.