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One of the hardest things about leaving Austin is leaving the kids’ preschool. The Rise School of Austin and all of the people working there that have touched our lives has been nothing less than transformative.

In the few short months that Reid and Ava have attended Rise, they have grown in ways that I could hardly imagine back in August.

Reid has learned the invaluable lessons of patience, understanding, and acceptance. When he first started at Rise, he was pretty uncertain and, to be quite frank, a bit annoyed with one of his classmates who has Down syndrome like his sister. There were several times at afternoon pick-up when I learned that Reid had been reprimanded for poor behavior toward the young man. We talked about it a lot. About how people learn differently, at their own pace, and that ultimately people will do what they want, when they want. It wasn’t all just talk about the other kids in his class. It was about him, too. He’s asked so many insightful questions, that I’m amazed they come from the mind of a 5-year-old. Questions like: “Is it okay to be bossy?” “Why can’t some people talk?” “Can I have a wheelchair? I want one!” I am pleased that his opinion of his classmate has gone from one of annoyance to that of sheer joy, talking about him and asking to have him come over to play after school. I feel like his experience at Rise will carry-through with him, into not only appreciating differences in our society, but celebrating them. It’s an experience for him that I wish I had as a child. Imagine what the world could be like if everyone experienced the joy of differences.

And Ava. My, oh my! She has turned from a boot-scooting baby into a full-fledged, walking toddler. She’s now saying “open,” “up,” “down,” and knows most of her colors. It’s incredible. Every morning she literally runs into her classroom. It’s so funny: she takes turns on which teacher she hugs first and then laughs before making her morning hug rounds. I know that a lot of what she is now doing is because she is ready to do it. But I can’t say enough about the positive influence the Rise classroom has had on her. The love, joy, patience, and unrelenting positive reinforcement and expectations of her is astounding. And yes, her teachers have expectations of her. They only expect the best and because of that, she is giving them her best.

I can only hope that the environment, people and schools in California will give Reid and Ava what they truly need: the space, time, support, and energy to explore whatever it is they want to explore, at their own pace, with classmates that celebrate and accept differences. I’ve done a lot of research and have made contact with many people in CA already. I know there is much work ahead of me, just like there was when we finally found the Rise School.

With hard work, persistence, and ingenuity, I know we’ll get there. But I’m still keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best.