Coco – and Molly, too – had a very full week. I love reading about all the meaningful things these two Bright Spot Therapy Dogs are doing to help people of all ages.
Here’s Coco…
This week, I went to school with Mom Monday and Wednesday. Molly went to school on Tuesday. In the two and a-half days we were there, we did a lot of meaningful work.
On Monday, I worked with many students in the behavior specialist’s room. One boy is having an especially difficult time re-adjusting to special education services. He went off an IEP at the end of last year, but he recently went back on, mostly for anxiety. Part of his plan includes spending one or two periods each day in the behavior specialist’s room getting some work done. He gets very stressed about work completion, and this way, he will be able to get most – maybe all – of his work done before leaving at the end of each day. Mom says that after spending half the day in the behavior specialist’s room Monday because of some anxiety-related behavior issues, he settled in. He got lots of work done, asking for help when he needed it, and petting me to help keep him calm. Many of the students who work in that room have anxiety, and Mom says there is nothing better than a calm and non-judgmental dog to help with anxiety.
Despite the rain on Monday, I also took a few walks outside with groups of students. I enjoy listening to students’ conversations with Mom. Sometimes they talk about the stresses of school, sometimes they talk about their social lives, and sometimes they talk about upcoming plans or sporting events. Whatever the topics of conversation, it is clear to me that these students are happy to be walking with me. Mom says I help students form and maintain connections with each other and with her. There are many students who walk Molly and/or me regularly, but lots of other students sign up to walk one or both of us from time to time. Mom says it is pretty amazing that walking a dog has become such an integral part of so many students’ days at school.
After school, Mom and I went to Auburn to visit with our friend in the nursing home since we would not be able to see him Friday. He was asleep when we arrived, but he woke right up when I went to him and licked his hand. Like he always does, he had four biscuits waiting on his side table for me. As he petted and hugged me, he talked with Mom about Thanksgiving and his family. He called a few staff members into his room to meet me, and he acted very proud to be showing me off. After we visited for a bit, Mom and I walked him down to dinner and then we said our good-byes. He is a very special friend to me – I always look forward to seeing him.
Molly was at school with Julie on Tuesday. One girl went to Julie’s office feeling a little sad because Thanksgiving was reminding her of a loved one who died last year. It was about to be the first holiday season without her, and the emotions hit the student particularly hard that morning. She spent some time talking with Julie and Molly about her friend who died and how much the friend meant to her family. Molly sat quietly near the student and listened to her talk about her loved one. The student is someone who sees Molly and Coco regularly, but it was very nice to have Molly nearby for this particular conversation. Julie and Molly actually lost their special dog, Maggie, last year, too, so this holiday season will be a little bittersweet for them, as well.
Also on Tuesday, a student had his regular lunchtime meeting with Julie and Molly. At the end of the period as he was getting ready to leave, Julie wished him a happy Thanksgiving and told him that she is thankful for their weekly meetings and conversations. Julie also said that Molly was very thankful for him, and that she really appreciates how nice the student is to her and how much kindness he shows her. The student gave Molly a big hug and said, “I am very thankful for Molly and Coco. Actually, our whole school is thankful for the dogs. They really help everyone.”
On Wednesday, many students wanted to spend time with me. I took several walks outside and some inside when the weather turned rainy. The boy who now brushes me twice a week was so happy to see me. He brushed and petted me, and then we took a walk outside. He seems to really be opening up to Mom. She says it is because of me, that he does not really talk to many people because of his traumatic story (he and his family are currently living in a motel room), but he loves animals so much that he is able to connect through me. He seems like a very nice boy – sad and withdrawn, but very nice, and he LOVES me, and I love him. Mom says I am making a huge difference for him, that he has had a difficult life, that he is still in a very difficult situation, but that I am helping immensely. He looks forward to brushing me and walking me, and this helps him connect to people and to his new school.
There was a group of three boys working in the guidance suite on Wednesday. They needed a few breaks throughout their work session, so the school psychologist brought them outside with me to get some air and to have them burn off some energy. I know each of these students, and I was happy for some extra time with them this week.
Mom and I met with many students one-on-one in her office before the students left for the day. Each of them talked about Thanksgiving and their weekend plans. Mom says the holidays can be difficult for lots of people. Several of the students we met with talked about divorce and how they have gotten used to spending one holiday with one parent and one holiday with another. One sixth grader that we meet with at least twice each week, explained that it can be hard splitting holidays with her parents. She talked about not really understanding which family she is a part of. She clearly loves both her mother and her father, but has a tough time with the divorce. Her parents have been divorced since she was two or three, but she still has many emotions connected to the divorce and has been traumatized by it (and other family circumstances). Mom says that even though divorce is a common theme among families today, it is still especially difficult around the holidays for many children.
On Thursday morning, I traveled to Vermont with my family for the Thanksgiving weekend, and enjoyed time with family and friends. On Saturday, I was a guest at my grandmother’s library. Children and adults listened to Gram read Meet Coco, a Bright Spot Reading Buddies book, and each received a bookmark about me, along with Keep Calm and Pet Coco sign. Mom presented three Bright Spot Reading Buddies books (donated by Bright Spot) to the library, and talked about the work she and I do with students at her school and with residents in nursing homes. I enjoyed some extra attention, and Gram was happy to have us at the library.
The week was an interesting one for me, and Mom and I were reminded that there is more to life than work. I enjoyed my time in Vermont, and am looking forward to spending Christmas there. Before that, however, Mom and I have lots of work to do and lots of people to help. ~Coco