"A Wish for My Grandson"

As promised, here are the beautiful concluding remarks from Dr. Judith McConnell-Farmer. Each "wish" is a clever reference to one of the presentations from our Oxford Round Table. Very impressive!

"A WISH FOR MY GRANDSON"

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT THE GREATEST GIFT IS THE GIFT OF READING AND THAT HE DEMONSTRATES, DEMONSTRATES, PRACTICES AND PROVES THROUGH OUT HIS LIFE.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HE IS A HELICOPER PARENT.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HE IS NEVER LEFT-OUT EVEN IF IT IS NICELY.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HE HAS A SENSE OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AND VALUES SERVICE LEARNING.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HIS LIFE IS VALUED IN PROCESS, NOT AS A PRODUCT, AND THAT IT IS ALWAYS MESSY WORK.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HE NEVER GETS A PHONE CALL AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING SAYING, “BOOTS ARE ON THE GROUND!”

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT IF HE IS ON A LADDER REACHING FOR A STRAWBERRY, HE DISCOVERS HOW TO GET IT.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HE KNOWS PLAY IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT AND THAT LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE IS LEARNING A NEW CULTURE.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HE HAS LITE IN HIS ENVIRONMENT.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HE IS IN A STATE OF ENCHANTMENT EVEN WHEN A BEAR IS NEAR.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT ALTHOUGH HE HAS A VOLKSWAGEN PARENT HE IS NEVER EXPELED FROM PRESCHOOL.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT,” HIS TASK IS NOT TO REASON WHY BUT TO INVERT AND MULTIPLY”.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HIS ACHIEVEMENT GAP DOES NOT BECOME WIDE AND HE LEARNS TO CONNECT THE POINTS OUTSIDE THE BOX.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HE RESPECTS TEACHERS FOR THE EXPERTS THAT THEY ARE EVEN THOUGH HE MIGHT BE CONVERTED TO THE DARK SIDE OF ASSESSMENT.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT IN HIS LIFE INDIVIDUAL VARIATION IS THE NORM INSTEAD OF THE EXCEPTION.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HE SPEND LESS TIME TALKING AND MORE TIME LISTENING AND THAT HE HAVE INTIMATE DISCLOSURES AMONG HIS FRIENDS.

 I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HIS FRONTIAL LOBES DEVELOP BEFORE HE IS 26 YEARS OLD AND HE REMEMBERS THAT IT IS ALL ABOUT CONNECTIONS.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HE LOVE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND REALIZES IT IS A LIVING LANGUAGE.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HE LEARNS FROM THE INSIDE OUT USING HIS HERITAGE LANGUAGE AND IT IS NOT A SECRET.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT ALTHOUGH HIS PARENTS DID NOT PICK CHERRIES AND STRAWBERRIES ON THE CIRCUIT, HE KNOWS THAT BEHAVIORS CAN CHANGE THROUGH EDUCATION.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HE IS ABLE TO GO TO BELIZE AND EVEN IF THE GROUND SHAKES HE DOES NOT SLIDE AWAY.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HE KNOWS AFRICA IS A CONTINENT, NOT A COUNTRY, AND THAT THERE IS A MISSING LINK IN THE STUDY OF AUTISM.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT THERE IS A HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND, A DOG CAN BE A CO-THERAPIST, AND THAT A HEART ALWAYS HAS A HOME.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HE IS TAUGHT IN HIS MOTHER TONGUE AND CELEBRATES THE NOISINESS OF THE CLASSROOM.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HE REMEMBERS THAT IT IS HARD TO UNLEARN BAD HABITS AND TO KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT HE DOES NOT ACT LIKE A WOMBAT AND KNOWS WHAT “AHM” MEANS.

I WISH FOR MY GRANDSON THAT IF HE IS EVER FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO COME TO AN OXFORD ROUND TABLE THAT HE STANDS WHERE I AM STANDING NOW AND SEE YOU GAZING BACK AT HIM.

© 2012 by Dr. Judith Lynne McConnell-Farmer All rights reserved