Tova, this year, you earned the Communicative Canine Award! We are giving you this award because you have demonstrated even more understanding of the English language and of how to tell us what you want. You now understand the word "stay" which has been so very helpful. You let us know when you're about to vomit - coming up to us and snuggling extremely closely or in the most unusual places before your stomach starts pumping. You understand "out of the mud," "treat," "car," "walk," "bed," "up," "out," "water," and all of our names. One day when I was walking you during Quinn's recess time, I said, "Do you see Quinn?" and you immediately turned to try to find him. Once you spotted him, that tail of yours was wagging incessantly as you inched to try to go see him (which you couldn't because it was school time). You know when you are in trouble and what you should and shouldn't do. One day, you wouldn't follow me out of my bedroom, and as I went through the hallway and saw the insole of one of my shoes, I knew why you didn't want to show yourself. I said, "Toe-vah!" in that tone you don't like, and you "hid" in Knox's room, knowing you had done something I didn't approve of. I took the shoe and the insole downstairs, and you waited at the top of the stairs not knowing if you were still in trouble. I came back up and cuddled you, and then all returned to normal. You know "drop it" and "leave it" exceptionally well, and you (normally) obey immediately - even when it's really hard to do. You found a big slice of Spam on our walk one day. I didn't realize what it was until I got closer to see what was in your mouth and then noticed ants on it. Even though you really didn't want to drop it, you very slowly and reluctantly obeyed. You usually know "shake, shake," to help get extra water off you after a shower or when I need you to get any residual grass off of you when you have been rolling in the lawn. And you definitely know how to tell us to leave you the hell alone - showing those teeth or growling when the boys are in your face or annoying you or if we accidentally move into "your" space in bed. One of my favorite things is when I just pat the space next to me, and you know that means "come sit here with me." Thank you for being the best dog - so cool, cuddly, and communicative!
Knox, this year, we are awarding you the Constant Climber Award! You earned this award for many reasons. Yes, you are always climbing on everything - the walls and door frames, the couch, the playground, you name it.... this award isn't really about climbing up on things. It's about you being able to overcome hard things and continually improving your skills. You started second grade after not really being challenged much in first grade. I was hopeful that your new teacher, Mrs. Rushing, would help you with handwriting, the writing process, and just being more accountable in your work ethic. She did not disappoint, and you did not either! You have grown so much this year academically. Your MAP scores prove that, and you even earned the Superintendent's Scholar Award for "outstanding academic performance in reading and math" for that growth. When Mrs. Swearingen said you needed to work on pushing through your PACE challenges, specifically the perplexors, we worked on those at home, and you started to enjoy them. While they can be difficult, you now know you can push through and not give up. You started speech with Ms. Kaley and OT with Ms. Becca, and you have made so much progress faster than expected in OT, that you are graduating out of it after only 3 months. You played soccer all school year - fall, winter, and spring seasons - and while you didn't always love it, you showed up for your team and tried to have fun. Your winter season was amazing, you were on fire on the field, aggressively chasing that ball and trying so hard to get the ball to the goal. You learned to snap this year, your handwriting is leaps and bounds better, your writing is so creative and fun to read, and you have more coping skills for dealing with things that annoy you (like your socks or your underwear). You have some really amazing friends, too. You defend them, stand by them, work it out with them, and have fun together. You're a good friend to them and know how to both choose the right people to hang out with while also being willing to let new friends in - even ones you once thought you didn't like but grew to care about. Childhood is hard and tricky and challenging. It can be bumpy and feel overwhelming. But this year, you have shown such persistence and growth as you learned new skills and sharpened ones you already learned. We're really proud of you and how far you've climbed all year long!
Quinn, this year, we are awarding you the Believe & Achieve Award. We almost called this the Ted Lasso Award or maybe the Hugo Reyes Award. No matter what we call it, it's given to you this year because we are so very proud of your belief in yourself and others. Both of the characters I mentioned struggled with anxiety and needed a little help through it. They also deeply cared for others and were strong, positive leaders. Like you, they are kind, sensitive, helpful, and funny! They both show so much compassion for others. They also aren't afraid to ask for help or show when they are struggling. Quinn, you took so much initiative this year - to do a Science Fair project, to participate in the Spelling Bee, to ask for help when you needed it, to talk to the teacher when she misgraded something, to join a new baseball team where you really didn't know anyone, to comfort your friends or help settle their anxiety or drama or sadness. You made all but one A on your report card this year (that darn 88 in science the 2nd 9 weeks!). You have an amazing core group of friends. You started medicine for anxiety and have been working through your feelings with Dr. Ackerman. You constantly think of others and are beyond cooperative and helpful around the house and with Tova. You hardly ever complain when a request is made of you. Even if something is hard, you push through and don't give up. Ted Lasso said, "Belief doesn't just happen because you hang something on the wall, alright? It comes from in here (heart). You know? And up here (brain). Down here (gut). Only problem is we all got so much junk floating through us, a lot of times we end up getting in our own way. You know, crap like envy or fear, shame. I don't want to mess around with that shit anymore. You know what I mean? Do you? You know what I wanna mess around with? The belief that I matter - regardless of what I do or don't achieve. Or the belief that we all deserve to be loved, whether we've been hurt or maybe we've hurt somebody else. Or what about the belief of hope. Yeah? That's what I want to mess with. Believing that things can get better. That I can get better. That we will get better. Oh man, to believe in yourself. To believe in one another. Man, that's fundamental to being alive. And look, if you can do that, if each of you can truly do that, can't nobody rip that apart."
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