Two Teachers Who Love Me

The sunlight twinkled through the windowpanes, filtering into the beautiful creases around my mother's enlivened smile and brightening the natural peachiness of my sister's youthful skin. Two generations of special education teachers sat snuggled on the sofa, barefoot and all, expressing the everyday joys and challenges in working with the talented and unique children of special education. I listened enviously as my mother and sister giggled gleefully while completing one another's sentences. They shared a common bond as colleagues in the noble field of special education.

"Have you ever met a child who cannot read or write on his own, but give him a birth date (February 17, 1952) and he will say that is a Thursday," proclaims my mother. "Oh yes," says my enthusiastic sister Allyson, "And have you ever met a child who cannot read or speak, but sit him at a piano and the keys become his vocal chords? It's as if he creates some sort of," a few moments pass as they search for the suitable phrase. In synchronization they exclaim, "musical language!"

In 1974 Mom received her special education degree. Four years later she gave birth to her Allyson. On that special day Mom's beauty spread into Allyson's pure face, while the love she embraced for teaching leaked into her malleable heart. Twenty-three years later, Allyson became a special education teacher.

Today they sit on this sofa, sharing stories, learning from each other's techniques and working together to make a positive change in the lives of many children. Mom holds Allyson's hand as she verbalizes her joy for teaching, "Teaching is the future. As a teacher you have the power to change a child's life into a positive and successful one, full of rewards and successes." The sun sinks into her smile and she glows amazingly. Allyson adds, "Yes, teaching is a noble profession because you are working with the future. Impact a child's life in one way and you will be impacted double."

Mom and Allyson are special teachers. Within each is a glowing ball of patience that provides the tolerance needed to work with special education's slow progress. But they both agree that being a part of a team of professionals who see well in all they do and are determined to make a difference is most rewarding.

I wonder whether Mom filtered into my heart the same love for teaching. Whether she did or not, I smile simply knowing that two teachers love me. One gave birth to me and the other held my hand, facilitating a small being through her childhood years. I feel the need to give Mom and Allyson the due respect they observe. Therefore, it is due time to make an introduction, "World-meet my Mom and Sister. Mom and Ally-meet the world."

--Kimberly Cisek