Chapter 25

What now?….and then? Will she? What if…

We had 2 papers left for completing Senior Secondary Examination and they would be held in April 2015. Preparation was progressing well….’Data entry’ and ‘Catering Management’ were both interesting for my daughter. In December 2014, I noticed she started weeping for no evident reason. It could be for a duration of ten minutes to one hour and from once to several times a day!

To help her express her feelings, I always asked simple direct questions through writing, as she is a visual learner. I tried making a note of what happened just before her crying….looking for triggers and association to any person. Was it an incident or an activity; physical discomfort or hunger….it pained to see her cry for no reason, at home and outside.
In January 2015, school was going to celebrate the Graduation ceremony of her batch. She would have to go on the stage, be on limelight while receiving the award….she would need to be happily settled till completion of the event! This kind of celebration would be for the 1st and last time, in her life. It HAD to be memorable and HAPPY.

I requested her teachers to let me be around her, during the invocaion ceremony and musical programmes, and till the awards began. I prayed hard, massaged her hands, bribed her to smile through the ceremony. We both revised every step that she had to follow while going and being on stage! Then finally she rose, walked up proudly and smartly, received her awards, gave her million dollar smile to the photographer, walked down the steps carefully and smartly! Yes !!!!!she did not cry but definitely I did…it was joy…it was fun…

She graduated from school after 14 long years of learning and achieving, struggling and shining! I felt my heart swelling up with pride and gratitude towards each and every educator who contributed towards her, in this journey. I must have questioned, nagged, complained and challenged them several times during all these years! But we also worked together, supported each other….understood our limitations and frustration. And each time we raised the bar to help my daughter achieve more than we thought she could!

Now the last and final inning of school…. she had to sit for her examination, write and complete her paper while staying stable, EMOTIONALLY. I had immense faith in her reader but did not want her to be burdened with any extra hassle! I could not thank her enough for being so kind and sensitive with a positive approach towards my daughter always! She was so humble yet confident…she understood my daughter, wanted to help her and she knew that she COULD help her!

“Because that’s what kindness is. It’s not doing something for someone else because they can’t, but because you can.” – Andrew Iskander