My Kids

I FINALLY got permission from my teacher and some of the kid's parents to take pictures of them. The following are four boys who I work with in my morning class from 10-11 Monday through Friday. There are also two girls and another boy who are in the class but one of the girls was sick while the other boy was out of town and the second girl was taking a nap in class so I figured I would wait till I could get a better picture. 

I really look forward to my morning class. It is the same kids every day (unlike my afternoon class) and even though they usually hate me when I am making them do puzzles or color, there are times when we are together that they show me in small ways that I am making a difference. The class is set up in a cubicle with blue faded mats on the floor. Everyday I walk up, take off my sandals and worm my way onto the floor of the small room. There are usually 5-7 kids and their mothers along with me and the teacher in a room the size of a large bathroom. As I sweat it out on the floor (there is no AC and the fans go on and off with the power outages) I spend time working individually with the different kids and helping them to learn how to take turns without killing each other. 

I am going to have to write a different blog post about the mothers and teachers that I interact with because they are an absolute hoot. Lets just say that half of them are trying to find me a husband while the other half seem intent on feeding me so many sweets that I feel like I am turning into a Gulab Jamun (some sort of fried, sweet, delicious ball of wonder). Anyways, that is for another night so without further adieu I present my boys:

Shom

 This little boy is the most high functioning boy in my class. He is usually content just sitting by himself bouncing up and down in his little desk. He is one of the kids, however, who gets really antsy when he is away from his mother. Last week we had computer class and since the room is so small that mothers do not go with the kids so it was just me, the teacher Shukanya, and three of the little boys including Shom. When we got into the room, Shom became visibly upset and kept trying to climb out the door. Then, as I sat in to corner in a small chair, Shom came over and climbed into my lap, grabbing my hand to hold along the way. This was the first time that any of the kids showed my physical affection and to say it made my day would be the understatement of the century. As I bounced him on my lap and sang twinkle twinkle little softly in his ear he began to quiet and was calm for the rest of the class. Another thing I love about this little munchkin is when he does his puzzles. After putting in each piece he looks at me with a small smile to get some affirmation. After having to physically drag some kid's hands to and from each puzzle piece it is nice to go over to him.

Ashmit

This picture might look a little strange but in reality it is Ashmit's favorite activity: spinning a plate. This guy would be as happy as could be if everyone let him just sit by himself and spin that little metal plate until the end of time. His second favorite thing is when we go in the sensory room. This is a air conditioned room that is an Autistic child's dream. There are music toys, yoga balls, and in the very back, an infinite mirror. This is a mirror with flashing lights that when you look into it appears to go back forever. Ashmit will spend the full thirty minutes in from of this mirror giggling and flapping his arms as if he just won the lottery. No matter what kind of morning I have had so far watching his happy dance never fails to put a smile on my face. The other funny thing about this kid is that every time we go to dance class or yoga class or music class the phrase that it heard at least 3 times is "Someone grab Ashmit!" He likes to escape, and by escape I mean run like a little gumbie out of the room on wobbly legs. 

Shyak

This picture of Shyak was taken as he peeked around me to watch Ashmit spin his plate. This kid cracks me up. Every time that we do the animal puzzle he insists on meowing like the cat and barking like a dog and "walking" the pieces into their spots. He has also gotten into the habit of holding my hand every time we walk to dance or yoga class and even though I have to stoop over a bit since he is so small I always have a grin on my face when we walk into the room hand in hand. One of my favorite memories from Manovikas so far was one day when I said "ta-ta" (how they say goodbye here)  to Shyak and he unexpectedly said it back to me. This is from a kid that is almost completely nonverbal. I was speechless as I watched his skinny frame walk out the room and Shukanya just patten my shoulder, knowing that words couldn't express what I was feeling. 

 Mrinmoy

This is Mrinmoy during his "tiffin time"eating sweet biscuit cookies. Unfortunately, like many Autistic kids, he has a few bad habits. The most prominent of these is throwing. At any given time during the class it is not unusual to see a puzzle piece go flying by one's face (of if you are more unlucky, feel it whack your face). Anything and everything that this kid can get his hands on will go hurdling across the room. He also really likes to "stimm" by looking up at the ceiling while shaking his head and singing. During music class he usually sits in my lap so that he won't get up and try to throw the instruments and he loves it when I help him clap his hands to the beat.


I'm not going to lie, there are definitely day when I come home from Manovikas and wonder why I am here. I sit all day with kids that for the most part hardly seem to know that I am there or cry every time I make them do their work. They are all almost totally nonverbal and are more apt to throw a puzzle at your face than give you a smile but I can't help but love them. One small littel gesture of kindness or recognition can make up for hours of frustration and I am already starting to feel sad knowing that I am going to leave them in less than four weeks.