My Kids

It's too cold to take the children out to the playground today so we are spending our recess here in our classroom. I love to watch my Kindergarten children. They are playing with Play-Doh, building with blocks, playing with the barn/farm set, two boys are playing in our "Housekeeping" area, some are drawing, some are making Lego creations. It seems their only concerns are "Where can I go next to play?" and "When will it be time to go home?" Oh, I forgot one other..."When is snack?"

My years in the classroom have taught me that time passes quickly and my second generation of children are becoming my charges. Their parents that I had when they were 5 are now grown people with careers, house payments, car payments, and kids of their own. I am fortunate that I actually see many of them and can remember them when I see them out and about. I can still recall their names and sometimes remember some little 'something' that they did when they were 'little' that I can share with them. My heart is thrilled and I become teary when they give me a hug and tell me that I'm their favorite teacher ever or they find something that I gave them and that they still love me. I have even received letters where students have actually written about me because of a class assignment and how I touched their life.

These 29 years have been a test of perseverance and true grit. I hope I can make it 65 more days for this school year plus 1 more school year. I've seen changes in education from the chalkboard and flannel board to the dry erase board and now to the 'smart board'. Changes from chalk, to markers, to the click of the mouse. Is the time drawing near for me to turn in my plan book and file folders full of ideas and plans for another venue of my life? A friend told me yesterday that I will know for sure when the time is right...I do know one thing is for sure....the 5-6 year old innocence, creativity, unbridled enthusiasm, and energy are to be admired by the adult world. I have to agree with George Bernard Shaw (not Calvin Coolidge-for you Andy fans), "Youth is wasted on the young."

For now, I'll just stay here in Room #201 and soak up as much as I can for future use in the retirement realm.