I do We do You do

There is a story about new beginnings.
Sometimes it comes back to me in the fall. 

Perhaps I remember it when I see the leaves changing from green to red, then orange to yellow before the leaf is finished for the year.

This year the story came to me when I stood in a foyer waiting for others to arrive at a gathering. 

I spoke to one person who showed me how to learn more about the first part of this story by looking at a model called I do, We do, You do. There are few ways to learn about this, including this one.

They were one of the people who were there when I was learning how to step into the world with our son, learning how to watch and listen. 

It was when I began to pay attention to the details of what others were doing to teach a young child who survived an illness and then popped up after each illness. 

..A first step, I found it!

Here I was, looking for a first step and I found it!

Imagine the moment with me, if you will. 

I was looking for someone who was able to share their knowledge and go to the next step. Finding that someone was incredible. When I found more than one person, I was truly grateful. 

All of this came back to me like it was a moment before yet in reality, it was more than 30 years before the time standing in the foyer. 

The person standing with me in the foyer was one of the incredible ones who began paying attention to me in the beginning. 

What a great conversation we had as I asked how the days were going for them now and what styles of learning they were seeing. 

This model was how I went from watching with care to continue learning.

Then we came right back around to how this model of ‘I do, We do, You do’ was how I went from watching with care to sitting next to someone to continue learning on my own. 

This was when I felt like I could ride like the wind and try some of the things at home or when I was with our son out and about doing life. 

What could this mean?

For me it means that I was able to move along the learning path with someone who shared their understanding. 

As I look for what can be infused with light among the leaves.

Sure, that is part of it. 

There was another part for me that helped me go into feeling like I could go and do more. 

The people around me when I was learning then, and now, were kind, caring, open with answers, compassionate and willing to take time. 

All of this was to support the changes in learning that came to me and our son as he was learning about communication across his day. 

Take a look at the colors of the leaves you see as we can step into this piece. 

The first steps of ‘I do’ is about someone who knows and modeling it for others.

If we consider the steps of ‘I do’, it is about someone who knows what they are doing and modeling that for others to see what they know and are talking about this. 

‘Add a comment here with AAC, wonder about more language there, create books for fun all along the way’. 

For me, it was the person who started where we were, as if they were the green leaves on the tree waiting to change with the child or parent in front of them.

When the time of change is ready, go to the ‘We do’ piece with others.

When they know it is time to change to red or orange and go to the ‘We do’ piece with others. 

Then comes the fun or most scary part. 

Letting go and letting someone do it on their own with the ‘you do’ piece. 

It’s like the final colors when leaves change into their most brilliant array or when we step back from learning with someone. 

When I stepped back from the person who had been with me during a year of learning, I realized that I was having fun. 

It was no longer scary because of the modeling, the showing and the doing that had been done. 

What I now know is that this process is one that I have done a hundred or more times since then. 

It was why I felt the calm, joy and compassion come back when I saw this person walk back into the gathering as my story continues. 

Perhaps it is why fall and the the changing leaves bring it all back to me when I see those who shared with me and our son. 

The story includes new beginnings, even now, with people who take time with others. 

What story can you share with others as you do one thing with them today?