Hope and I meet Rhema and her teacher Kim at the door. We assume our positions for the greeting program we’ve been working on for years – me kneeling and waving, Kim crouching, Hope jumping up and down, Rhema looking at anything but us. Some days it’s like magic. And some days… well… I think the whole exchange could be put to music. (Think: This Is The Song That Never Ends… but it’s ok because seeing her try and hearing her voice is just that good.)
Kim: Rhema. Say Hi to Mom!
Rhema: Bye, bye, bye!
Me: Hi, Rhema. Hi!
Rhema: Bye, bye, bye.
Hope: Hi Rhema!!!
Kim: Say hi, Rhema!
Rhema: Buh, buh, buh, buh, bye!”
Me: Hi, hi, Rhema.
Rhema: Byeeee. Bye-bye. Bye-bye.
Rhema: Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye.
Hope: Hi! Hi!
Kim: Say hi!
Rhema: Buh, buh, buh, buh, buh. Buh, buh.
Me: Hi, baby. Hi.
A pause.
Rhema: Hi, hi, hi, hi.
Hooray! We stand and stretch our legs, wipe sweat from the brow. Then we gently turn her to face her teacher…
Kim: Bye, Rhema. Bye!
Rhema: Hi, hi, hi, hi!
.
I’m glad you approach this with a sense of humor. You have me smiling!
This resonates. Only with Joy, the “hi” is more like an explosive “Ha!”
I agree that the effort and the voice are the saving graces of the whole routine.
We used to get a lot of him repeating, “say, hi, Alex.” LOL!
This makes me smile! We’re up to smiles for “hi” and giving five for “bye.” I love it that you all have set positions and lines to do each day!
It will come. Good work! gail
Love
Jude: ha ha ha ha ha!
This brings back so many memories! Me (or anyone): “Say, ‘Hi,’ Nigel!” And in his little voice he would say: “Hi, Nigel.” Gotta love it!
Go Rhema! Jeneil, your life is a beautiful picture of the saying, “Love is a verb”.
**heart** this.