Tomorrow is the last day of school… all year I have spent my days with 20 funny little people… seven and a half hours, four days a week… many evenings, and most weekends, I have spent my time planning for our days together, thinking about what makes each one tic, and worrying over their sweet little lives… I called a parent the other night because I saw their child crying as they were heading home and I wanted to check to make sure everything was okay. As I said goodbye I said ‘ Tell ____ I called and I love them.’ How funny, I thought, when I hung up. That mom must think I am a nutball. I know that my love for my students is different from a mother’s love… because, really, I love them for the short amount of time that they are in my care… frozen forever at 6 or 7 years old ~ growing only from September until June. They consume me. When I see them out around town I am shocked at how little they are! To me, in my room, they are HUGE!
So, tomorrow I say goodbye to our year together… the chapter closes and they will be loved by another teacher next year. When you think about that goodbye and realize the love and care your child’s teacher poured into your child day after day, week after week and month after month please know that this year someone else cared about your child almost as much as you did. Whether things went smoothly or not… they cared, and did the best they could to love, cherish and teach your child. Happy summer… see you at the end of August!
lookforthejoy 