Four-year-old Ellen screams and laughs inappropriately when she walks through the halls. She seems to like the sound of her voice echoing off the walls. Laughing and screaming so uncontrollably that it looks as if she's going to fall.

At circle time I called Ellen to come over and sit by me because she was being disruptive. The children are used to her wandering around the room hollering out and laughing. Sometimes her outburst scares them and they jump, but they always continue to turn their heads back around to give me their attention.

I have a toy and I know that Ellen wants it. I can see her out the corner of my eye inching closer to me. I have a plan to grab onto her as she comes by and place her on my lap so that she too may enjoy the story and colorful pictures. Oh boy, she's on to me, and runs by so fast giggling. My fingertips barley touching her fleece top.

She doesn't communicate to me, but there's something there that indicates that she will eventually, so I will wait patiently.

One day Ellen brought me a picture...a beautiful picture. "Oh how wonderful honey, can you tell me about you picture"? She said "Frauwah" I wanted to grab her up and swing her around...I did! She's drawn more "Frauwahs" over the weeks and they are always displayed at her eye level so that she can walk proudly by and admire them.

Last week Ellen painted a big red, yellow, and purple butterfly. She came over to me and hugged me so tight and took my hand and led me to the easel. The other children are amazed at her work, and use it as a model.

Ellen loves the song "Frere Jacques" so with her permission, I have affectionately given her the name Ding Dong. She giggles when I call her and says "No…you a dong"

No one calls or comes up to see how she's doing. I want to hug her, but I wait for her to come to me not wanting to cross that boundary. Her plump round cherubic face and fluffy body. I love the feel of her chubby little arms around my neck. I want to just take a bite out of her smiling apple cheeks and munch her up. She's full of hugs, and so affectionate.

Ellen speaks to me now and when she does, I am the one who screams out loud at her accomplishments, and laughs out loud with such genuine emotion that I could cry.

This is for you my little Ellen Ding Dong (giggle, giggle tee hee). I love you!


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