When Olive first started school, I read a book written by a fellow nevus mum to her class and talked to the kids about Olive's nevus. When she started year 2 at her new school, she decided she didnt want me to do that and she would tell people as she felt neccessary.

 So that's what she did. She showed a few friends and kids in her class but it started to take a backseat and wasnt the focal point of Olive as a person (just how we want it to be!).
Now that she is almost 7, discussions about Olive's nevus aren't as prevalent in our every day conversation anymore. The need just isn't there - we have no health concerns, and she accepts it wholeheartedly and is proud of her skin. Unless we're meeting with her derm or she donks it, her nevus really doesn't come up much. It is just a part of her body to her and to us.

 So imagine my surprise when it did come into conversation the other day and what Olive told me. I cant remember how the conversation started but somehow her nevus was brought into it. The rest of the convo went something like this:

 Me: "Well not everyone in your new class knows about your nevus though aye honey?"

 Olive: "Yes they do mum. I told them about it."

 Me: "Oh did you? At lunch or something?"

 Olive: "No I stood up in front of the class and told everyone all about it. Then I showed them."

 I was taken aback by this as Olive can be quite shy sometimes, so I asked her how it came about.

 Olive: "Oh well P***** was telling the class about her diabetes and her port and Miss Q asked if I wanted to talk about my nevus so I did."

 Olive and her friend P***** are one of a handful of kids who's photos and care charts are on the board in the staff room. All the teachers know about them and in Olive's case, what to do should she injure her nevus or overheat because of it. Olive knows she's special because most people don't have CMN and knowing her picture is in the staff room makes her feel a little like royalty!

 But the kids aren't all aware. At least, they weren't. Until she took it upon her little 6 year old self to inform them. And holy moly I couldn't be prouder. The confidence in her in just a year at her new school is astounding. The staff there blow me away with their investment into each child's well being. I'm so happy we changed. May she continue to thrive and grow stronger each day into the confident, beautiful young lady she is fast becoming ❤