missing my kids...

Today I am really missing my students. The familiarity of me knowing them, and them knowing me.

Having my classroom where somedays we just sat and colored, or talked, and everybody hugged each other. Where my kids all worked hard. Where I knew their emotions, their feelings, their stories.

Letting go of them was one of the toughest things to do. And while it was obviously necessary...It was still hard.

I gave my students this poem on the last day and barely made it through reading it outloud to them. Tears flowed, and we cried together. And all of those emotions and feelings are quickly flooding back right now.

To my students:

In 2009 at the beginning of September

You came into my class, how well I remember.
Some of you were smiling and giggling a lot

Some were very quiet and a few tears I could spot

You came here to learn, to be taught how to read

You were then very much like a tiny new seed
You were all in my garden just waiting to grow

So this gardener got busy with her rake and her hoe

I fed you the water and let in the sun

You took in the soil, but we had only begun
Each day as I worked in this garden of mine

I saw you all growing so strong and so fine

Then finally one day I took a good look

And saw each of my flowers reading a book
It was obvious then that you had worked too

Soaking up all the food I had given to you

But although you have blossomed, you still need to grow

So I'll pass you on now to another gardener I know
They too have a rake and hoe they can use

And plenty of food from which you can choose

I hope you will keep your roots open wide

Take in all their food and keep it inside

Yes, a gardener can work all night and all day

But the flower must be willing to take in each ray

So work very hard in your garden each year

Do the best you can and you'll have nothing to fear
Grow strong and tall, reach up for the sun

Stay as nice as you are and have lots of fun.