Well...the first day back with the kids actually went pretty well. Of course lunch ran LATE but I hope with help from the teachers things will get better.
It was great seeing some of my favorite kids and all the new cute 3rd graders. Looks like it will be a great year! I did not see my little buddy S.R. at breakfast so I was hoping she had not moved. But...all of a sudden there she was. She grabbed Oreo the cow (our kitchen mascot) and then gave me a huge squishy hug! I really missed that little girl. Of course being in the 4th grade she is not little anymore though.
Every year it seems that there is always at least one student that really takes a liking to me. A few years ago it was G.B, last year it was S.R.. I hear her home life is not the best but I like that she feels she can come to me for a hug or to tell me what her day has been like. She even gave me an ivy plant on the last day of school last year...that has never happened! Such a sweet girl.
There was also E.L. another really sweet girl who has a kind of rough time at school. Most of the other kids hated her and would make fun of the house she lived in and I would take up for her and sit down to listen or give advice when she needed it. Last day of school she ran to me and gave me a huge hug and started crying. I asked her what was wrong and she said she was going to miss me! She had moved to another county and would also be in Middle School.
Another little girl that comes to mind came through the lunch line last year and was crying her eyes out. Some of her friends asked me to help her. I hugged her and found out what was wrong and she told me her very best friend was moving. She was so upset. I told her about my very best friend, Cindy. Cindy and I met in 4th grade and became the best of friends on the first day we met. She moved away a year later but even after all these years we still keep in touch. When I told this story to this little girl she looked at me and said "Really Ms. Sheila??" I told her it was true and that we have been friends for 40 years even though we have only seen each other twice in all those years. She dried her tears and tried to smile and gave me a hug.
I get to see most of my Little Buddies (the ones that move on the Middle and then High School) every now and then if I run into them at Walmart or Target, or sometimes at the Middle School when I have to go over there for something with Jennifer or borrow from their kitchen. It is nice to know that anyone can have an impact on the life of a child. Even though I am not a teacher, I have built good relationships with quite a few of the kids and I like that they can trust me to come to me when they are sad or very excited about something. I have patched up friendships, repaired eyeglasses, helped them with homework, given them school supplies, encouraged them, given advice, made them laugh, and even helped them with other problems they are too embarrased to tell anyone else about.
So I guess never underestimate the qualities of someone that works in the lunchroom. Some of us can have a lasting impact on the life of a child.
You are so right! Every person who works with children impacts their lives. This is called "leading from where you are in the organization". Knowing that you make differences in children's lives is one of the most important qualities for anyone to have: self-efficacy. People who have self-efficacy significantly impact children's lives. I am so proud of you.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful, Sheila! There's nothing better than the feeling that you were able to help, even just a little bit! It's so rewarding! Enjoy the school year!
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