A new school year

My little loves started a new school year. Both my boys are going to have big years. For SMILE, this is his first year of full-day school. For WINK, this is the year that school really becomes SCHOOL and his comfort zone is going to get stretched as he tries to keep up with his classmates. But they marched, undaunted, over to where their classes were lined up, book bags and lunchboxes in hand, hair spiked, and wrinkle free. DAD stayed home to see them off, of course, but also so he could stop me from sneaking into the school and camping out in front of SMILE's classroom door.

The drop off area was cluttered with smiling parents, many bending down for one more kiss. Cameras and camcorders were snapping and rolling everywhere I turned. To anyone looking on, my behavior was no different than the next gushing parent's.  Except I was praying that none of SMILE's classmates would care that he can't stop stimming or performing tics. I watched the other 6 year olds and I wanted to promise them candy, toys, ponies, cars, ANYTHING...if they'd just be nice to my boy and keep it up for the next nine months.  But I can't. 

I wanted to wire WINK so I could hear how his "friends" treat him in class. I want to be able to whisper prompts in his ear and tell him what to say in every situation.  But I can't.

DAD thinks I need to calm down. But I can't.