Monday, June 30, 2008
New tooth
We were in line at a Babies R Us buying our little one a new exersaucer when I noticed a little white spot on her gum. I felt around and sure enough, she's cut her first tooth. I announced it to my hubby and our oldest, and I was so pleased to see how excited her big sister got at this little milestone. I knew I had a good girl.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Thanks, teach!
My daughter recently finished first grade. I can't believe how quickly the school year went. When I think back to the first days and how much she struggled, it's amazing to see how far she's come. That first report card was less-than-perfect, and I remember how devastated she was by that. But we, as a family, were lucky that she had such a wonderful teacher. She kept in constant communication with us through parent-teacher conferences and e-mails. She also made every effort to greet each child with a hug at the door in the morning and a few words to the parents as the kids were being dropped off.
When my daughter would come home from school, she was always in a good mood. I'd listen to her talk about her day and laugh when some funny, new saying would come out of her mouth. When I'd ask where she learned that, she'd always say it was her teacher. Then there were times at dinner or at bed, when she would call me by her teacher's name. She'd catch herself then blush or grin widely. I guess she was trying to make sure that I didn't get jealous. I never did. It always made me feel relieved that she was obviously loved and well taken care of during the day.
As the final days of school were approaching, I began the count down. When it got down to the final two days, she insisted that there were four days left not two. We went back and forth on this, and then I finally asked her why she kept saying that there were four. She said it was because she wasn't ready to leave her teacher yet. I assured her that she would have a good teacher in second grade. I wasn't sure if that helped or not.
Well, the last day finally came. The children were given autograph books to sign, and my daughter brought hers because she realized her teacher hadn't signed it yet. When it was time to go, she walked up to her teacher and asked her to sign it. I watched my little girl fighting back the tears. And the more she fought it, the harder they came. I don't really like to cry in front of my daughter because she's a sensitive little kid. She doesn't like to see anyone cry. But this time, I couldn't help it either. She and her teacher rested their heads against each other as she wrote in the book.
The message said: You are my `sweet angel.' I love you and will miss you. Please come see me.
And she signed her name. Then she gave my daughter the biggest hug.
Her teacher came to me and hugged me earlier and told me how much she loved my daughter and what a great kid she is. And that's always nice to hear, but seeing how much love there was between those two made me realize how hard it was for my daughter to let go.
As we walked to the car, she sobbed about how unfair it was to have to say goodbye to her. She told me that she dreamed of having a teacher like her and now that she had her she didn't want to say goodbye. I don't ever remember feeling that way about any of my teachers growing up. I told her that we would write to her this summer and in the fall she could bring her an apple on the first day of school. I also looked that cutie in the face and wiped away her tears and told her, `You know, you crying like this is the reason teachers and the people you meet love you so much. You're a great kid.'
I think that helped.
When we came home, I set her up with an e-mail account and she wrote to her teacher that afternoon with promises to write to her often this summer. I know that's a promise and a friendship she's going to keep forever.
When my daughter would come home from school, she was always in a good mood. I'd listen to her talk about her day and laugh when some funny, new saying would come out of her mouth. When I'd ask where she learned that, she'd always say it was her teacher. Then there were times at dinner or at bed, when she would call me by her teacher's name. She'd catch herself then blush or grin widely. I guess she was trying to make sure that I didn't get jealous. I never did. It always made me feel relieved that she was obviously loved and well taken care of during the day.
As the final days of school were approaching, I began the count down. When it got down to the final two days, she insisted that there were four days left not two. We went back and forth on this, and then I finally asked her why she kept saying that there were four. She said it was because she wasn't ready to leave her teacher yet. I assured her that she would have a good teacher in second grade. I wasn't sure if that helped or not.
Well, the last day finally came. The children were given autograph books to sign, and my daughter brought hers because she realized her teacher hadn't signed it yet. When it was time to go, she walked up to her teacher and asked her to sign it. I watched my little girl fighting back the tears. And the more she fought it, the harder they came. I don't really like to cry in front of my daughter because she's a sensitive little kid. She doesn't like to see anyone cry. But this time, I couldn't help it either. She and her teacher rested their heads against each other as she wrote in the book.
The message said: You are my `sweet angel.' I love you and will miss you. Please come see me.
And she signed her name. Then she gave my daughter the biggest hug.
Her teacher came to me and hugged me earlier and told me how much she loved my daughter and what a great kid she is. And that's always nice to hear, but seeing how much love there was between those two made me realize how hard it was for my daughter to let go.
As we walked to the car, she sobbed about how unfair it was to have to say goodbye to her. She told me that she dreamed of having a teacher like her and now that she had her she didn't want to say goodbye. I don't ever remember feeling that way about any of my teachers growing up. I told her that we would write to her this summer and in the fall she could bring her an apple on the first day of school. I also looked that cutie in the face and wiped away her tears and told her, `You know, you crying like this is the reason teachers and the people you meet love you so much. You're a great kid.'
I think that helped.
When we came home, I set her up with an e-mail account and she wrote to her teacher that afternoon with promises to write to her often this summer. I know that's a promise and a friendship she's going to keep forever.
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