a unlikely hug

As a Montessorian I am probably not suppose to be as excited by my little unexpected hug today, but I am. I am thrilled to my core. There is this little boy in my class, who is a challenge in so many ways, but both C and I are committed to loving him, regardless what he does. Sometimes it is easy other times it is almost impossible not to loose patience with him. On top of challenging behavior he tends not to really relate to people. Today however he came to me ready to go outside (finally the rest of the class had been out for quite a while) without his mittens on. I reminded him about his mittens he came back and asked for help putting them on. I coached him through the first one but helped him with the second mitten. He got the most beautiful and lucid smile on his face and did a little dance and said, "I like it when you help me" and then hugged me! This child rarely communicates emotion and to be so sincere and focused at me...........well it was just an honor. I know he should be proud of all he can do for himself, but just for today I will relish that his life was a tiny bit better because I helped him.