For years I have been trying to teach him how to "turn a phrase", how to use transition words, and to write with prepositional phrases. Grammar is as difficult to teach as Trigonometry to someone whose brain is not wired that way. In his formative years we really were'nt sure if English and Grammar were his strong points or if he would be a whiz with Science and Mathematics. Thus, we drilled him on multiplication tables while playing "keep the balloon off the floor, and if it touches you have to answer a multiplication fact" or while playing around shooting hoops and every time he missed he had to spell a word. The way to learn is through fun and we steadfastly adhered to that mottto with every subject.
Today he brought home his rough draft for a paper in language arts. As we pulled out from the school parking lot he was excited to read it to me. His first three sentences almost brought a tear to my eye. I sniffled when he asked "Mom what's wrong?" He couldn't know how proud I was that all of the harping I had done and all of the minor homework that I had required to be rewritten, was beginning to finally pay off. The first word of his paper was "Envision". What a wonderful word! What an engaging attention getter! I praised and congratulated him. When we got home I encouraged him to read it to his Grammy. And when Dad gets home I will request that he read it once again for all of us to hear.
I know that he won't be able to understand until he has children of his own, that his achievements are my achievements. They mean that I did something right along the way. I pray that he finds such joy as I have found in being a parent one day too.
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