All Good Things Must Come To An End

Well, after counting down for the last two months, school is finally over. No more kids yelling, crying, whining, tattling, hitting, kicking, punching, biting. No more runny noses, pulling hair, lying, stealing. No more, “Teacher, he hit me!” or “I need to go potty teacher!” Or “She’s not sharing!” And definitely no more “I want my mommy!”

I woke up this morning not as excited as I had anticipated. I was kind of sad. Here I have spent about 8 or 9 months with these kids, 6 ½ hours a day four day a week being there when their parents can’t. I shared their hardships with them and I would empathize with them. When they fell they would come to me, when their feelings were hurt I was there to cheer them up, I played with them, I would enter into their imaginary world with them and we’d get lost just goofing off and being kids, I was their friend when they thought they had none. I helped them learn manners, ABCs, 123s, how to write their name. I helped teach them how to jump, skip, tiptoe, gallop, and balance (I know, Wiggle, teach kids how to balance?). I taught them how to treat there friends with respect, how to accept others, and how to become independent, I taught them how to laugh at themselves when they were sad, and that, it is okay to make mistakes, and most important, love who they are.

As I sat there watching the children sing to their parents today, I was so proud of them. They have come such a long way. I tried my hardest to swallow the lump that sat in my throat. Sitting outside on a bench watching the children laugh and play with the friends they made this year. Sarah ran up to me and threw her arms around me and gave me the biggest hug. This is a daily occurrence she always gives me hugs like that. But today was different the hug she gave me was extra long and tight, realizing that this would be the last day she might see me, (unless I see her in the grocery store or something). She then smiled and ran off to play; I sat there and cried, trying not to make a big scene, because kids don’t like to see their teacher cry.

Parents were there with their kids and were taking pictures of me with their child. I love every single child in my class and am going to miss them. The sad part is that in few months I won’t be in their minds anymore. In a couple of years they won’t even remember me. I will move on and have more kids to teach, and eventually, this whole year will be forgotten.

On the way home I spent time with each child laughing and playing and joking around with them, and hugged each one.

They reminded me that I was ready to let them go as some tattled, hit, and argue on the way home.

So, in a way it’s kind of a bitter sweet experience.

It was an awesome year and I hope I won't forget some of the things the kids taught me. But, I am glad I don’t have to wake up in the morning at 6am. It will be nice to sleep in.