That Friend

Yaks: (Yaks...BEAMING) "Mom, guess what?"
Me: "What!?"
Yaks: "I had SO much fun at recess! I played wiff Rhi!"
Me: (eyes welling with tears) "Oh! You did, buddy? That's great!"
Yaks: "Yeah, I made a friend!"

This was his journal entry that day.

I received an e-mail from his teacher on Thursday. She apologized for not knowing Yaks wasn't playing at recess. I in NO way blame her. I certainly never considered it the teacher's job to help my child find friends, but she kindly asked if there were any kids in class that he knew outside of school. I mentioned a few he knew, and a couple he had mentioned to me several times after school. One of them was a girl named Rhi. They are actually new in our ward! I asked if we could send some banana bread muffins for him to be able to share with the class for snack, to which she agreed.

The next day she paired them up for recess and "made him and Rhi swing." Ha, ha. After that, they took off playing on the playground, and have continued for several days now. He enjoyed being able to pass out the treats, and he was even called on to be a helper.

Sunday we were able to meet her. She walked right over to him at the Linger Longer and said, "Hi, Yaks!" Monday, first-grade Kai invited him to play with him during recess, and Boo even came around and joined in on the fun! He's gotten braver and more outgoing as a result. I overheard him ask our carpool buddy, Naomi, "Do you want to play with me until the bell rings?"

I'm thankful for caring teachers. I'm thankful for loving mothers who "encourage" their kids to include. I'm thankful for "that one friend" that we each have, and more importantly, that we can each be to someone else.