Living like a STAR

[caption id="attachment_924" align="alignleft" width="328" caption="Jenny and a much younger Bella Rose."][/caption]

Recently, Ben, Ellie and I daytripped to Chicago.  When we arrived for our visit with the Behms (see "Jenny, Jenny" blog), both Bella (8) and Max (5) had friends over.  One of Bella's friends, Megan, tried extremely hard to include Ellie in the activities at hand.   When Ellie would do her normal 'routine', Bella's other friend would roll her eyes.  (Which Bella refused to acknowledge, and I appreciated her for that.)  The girls did not quite know what to make of Ellie, she was unlike anyone they had encountered before.  Fortunately, Ellie did not notice at all.  As is what typically happens with Ellie,  she continued on her merry way.  I however, was feeling slightly hurt on her behalf.  Who was this kid to judge my Ellie?  

I guess I have become accustomed to the reactions Ellie's classmates and teachers have towards her.   Last Friday night, we all went out to eat at the delicious Roman Candle restaurant.   When Ben & I went outside after dinner, a boy and his brother were outside their apartment.  One of the boys came up and asked where Ellie was.  Not "hi" or "oh, you must be Ellie's mom and brother", but looking around in search of Ellie, as if Ben and I were in fact only signs that Ellie was somewhere nearby, like big arrows pointing in her direction. 

[caption id="attachment_896" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Ellie plays at the big dino party..."][/caption]

When we go to one of our favorite neighborhood spots, Lazy Jane's, the manager always asks where Ellie is if she is not in attendance.  Recently when we were at another favored spot, Willy Street Co-op, one of our checkers, Anna said, "Oh, that is Ellie, I've heard so much about her from Kelly."  It makes me feel like Ellie is a local celebrity, without the paparazzi, quite an enjoyable experience. 

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A few weeks ago, Ellie came home from school telling me one of the teachers did not want her to make up words.  For those of you who are not aware, Ellie likes to combine two or more words to create new words.  Ellie and I discussed how not everyone likes to make up words, sometimes people don't understand what she is trying to say or they don't want to play that game.  When I told Ellie's special education teacher, she became upset and confused.  She could not imagine who would have said such a thing.  She tracked down the possible perpetrator and the principal spoke with this person telling him/her that this was not acceptable.   Ms. Zwart was quite certain that Ellie will not be treated so "rudely" in the future.  I was completely floored at the way everyone involved was so wanting to make Ellie's experience at school an enjoyable one, one where she feels

[caption id="attachment_869" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Happy Ellie."][/caption]

free to blossom.  I mean I asked the question because I was surprised when Ellie told me that someone had said that to her, I couldn't image who she interacts with at school that would say something like that.  I wanted more information so that I could gear the conversation properly (i.e. was she making up words when she was supposed to be reading.)  The whole scenario left me with the feeling of Ellie being not only adored at school but also protected.  It left Thom feeling like he did NOT want to get on the wrong side of anyone working at the school.     

That is what I have been fortunate enough to experience for the most part this year, that kind of love and appreciation and total acceptance of Ellie.  So being around the eye rolling feels completely foreign.  How remarkable that Ellie's teachers and classmates and really our entire neighborhood has made me feel so sheltered and comfortable with the remarkable child she is.  I am left with feeling ever so greatful to  Bella's eye rolling friend who made me keenly aware of the circle of  love we are so very fortunate to reside in.