My stupid body comes second

ORIGINALY WRITTEN IN AFRIKAANS & TRANSLATED BY MOM.

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My dom lyf kom tweede

Vandat ek my brein kan gebruik, by my Wiskunde-lesse, het ek baie meer beheer oor my lyf. My lyf was nog altyd my grootste, mooiste vyand. Hy het my jare lank verhoed om te kan leer, maar daai dae is nou verby.

Al sukkel my lyf soms nog, my brein kry uiteindelik genoeg oefening sodat ek vrede kan maak met my lyf wat so neuk.

Die groot verskil het gekom toe ons met die Wiskunde klasse by Mnr. Schalk begin het. Dit het my lewe verander. Ek het nou ‘n kans wat niemand my nog voorheen gegee het nie.

My brein is so gelukkig oor ek die kans kry om te kan goed leer wat my interesseer en wat moeilik genoeg is dat my brein oefening kry.

My lyf se simpelgeit is so onbelangrik in Mnr. Schalk se klasse, want ek en Mnr. Schalk verstaan mekaar mooi. Mnr. Schalk het nie voorheen met kinders soos ek gewerk nie, maar Mnr. Schalk het ‘n mooi hart en help my om mooi kalm te bly.

Hy gee ook uitdagings vir my brein wat my baie goed laat voel.

Ek het by Mnr. Schalk geleer dat dit oraait is om soms iets verkeerd te kry. Hy hou nie op om vir my moeilike werk te laat doen net omdat my lyf dom is en ek nie my sakrekenaar se knoppies mooi kan druk nie.

My brein is so opgewonde oor elke les dat ek nie kan wag vir my lesse om te begin nie.

Ek doen my lesse met my mamma se hulp op die rekenaar elke dag (via Zoom). Ek doen ook groepsklasse waarin daar ander gewone kinders ook is. Ek voel dan asof ek na ‘n gewone klas kyk op die rekenaar en dit laat my goed voel dat ek saam met gewone kinders kan skool gaan. My lewe is soveel beter vandat ek die Wiskunde lesse so doen.

My brein kry kans om te oefen en my lyf kom tweede, want al is my lyf soos hy is, kry ek steeds kans om my brein te gebruik en dit is baie lekker vir my.

Ek is bekommerd oor my vriende wat nog nie hulp gekry het nie en wie steeds blokkies moet sit en bou in ‘n babaklas iewers.  Ek hoop daar kom ‘n mnr Schalk oor hulle pad ook sodat hulle dieselfde kans kan kry as ek.      

My stupid body comes second

Since I can use my brain, at my Mathematics lessons, I have much more control over my body. My body has always been my biggest, most beautiful enemy. He has prevented me from learning for years, but those days are now over. 

Even though my body sometimes struggles, my brain finally gets enough exercise so that I can make peace with my body that does not do what I want it to do.

The big difference came when we started classes at Mr Schalk with Mathematics. It changed my life. I now have a chance no one has given me before. 

My brain is so happy to get the chance to learn things that interests me and is difficult enough for my brain to get exercise.

My body’s silliness is so unimportant in Mr. Schalk’s classes, because Mr. Schalk and I understand each other beautifully. Mr. Schalk has not previously worked with children like me, but Mr. Schalk has a beautiful heart and he helps me stay pretty calm. 

He also gives my brain challenges that makes me feel very good.

I learned from Mr. Schalk that it is okay to sometimes get something wrong. He doesn’t stop doing difficult work with me just because my body is stupid and I can’t push my calculator’s buttons perfectly. 

My brain is so excited about every lesson that I can’t wait for my lessons to start.

I do my lessons with my mommy’s help on the computer every day (via Zoom). I also do group classes in which there are other ordinary children as well. I then feel like I’m looking at an ordinary class on the computer and it makes me feel good that I can go to school with ordinary children. My life is so much better since I do the Mathematics lessons in this manner.

My brain gets a chance to practice and my body comes second, because, even if my body is like this, I still get a chance to use my brain and it’s very nice for me.

I’m worried about my friends who haven’t gotten help yet and who still have to sit and build blocks in a baby class somewhere. I hope there comes a Mr. Schalk across their way too so they can get the same chance as I am.