Also, as anyone who has met the prisoners can attest, #1 has difficulty with speech-- something she works hard at in therapy and is acutely aware of. Her teachers and therapist have stated numerous times how children like her are usually introverted and are scared to speak up. But not our #1. Perhaps it is because she has always been in class with #2. While they do not have their own 'twin language' that is often times reported about twins, #2 could always understand her when others could not. He is her biggest supporter and I can only imagine that it helps her confidence. Perhaps it is just because she is a strong and confident young person.
Confidence is something parents always hope their children will have, and we have it in excess with all three of our prisoners. Case in point, and my reason to brag, is that today at their organized playground, karaoke was set up. Now karaoke is a favorite pastime in the prison. Almost daily the machine is cranked up to ear shattering levels with Frozen songs, and more recently top 40 hits from Taylor Swift, Megan Trainor, Maroon 5 and even Jimmies Chicken Shack (a favorite of the Guard!).
Upon pick up at playground today, they informed me about the karaoke. To my delight, #1 informed me that she performed 4 songs. In front of everyone. Her peers, older kids (up to 12 and 13), and staff (high school kids). Personally, I have had to work hard in my life to be able to speak in front of groups of people, and here is our oldest, performing in front of people. Speech be damned-- she has no fear. Predictably, #2 did not perform-- he is a boy, with some older friends, and already is starting to determine what is 'cool' for the cool boys to do. But, one of the things he does think is cool is to support his sibling as he stated how well she did, and how everyone applauded her.
So yeah. I am bragging. Deal with it.
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