"If you don't see the book on the shelf, write it." ~ Beverly Cleary
Student: Ms. Elvrum, you look poofy today.
Me: Thanks, I think.
[Student puts hands on my expanding tummy and rubs it.}
Student: I can feel your baby.
Me: Wow, I can’t even feel my baby yet! Maybe it is because I’m poofy.
Student: No, I think I can feel your baby.
When I interviewed for my current job a number of years ago I was answering questions from a panel of six or seven stone-faced people. It was very, very scary. Christina was the only person on the whole panel that nodded her head when I talked when I gave my nervous answers. She also smiled at me as if what was coming out of my mouth wasn’t pure gibberish. She was my Happy Place in the interview.
Friday, when I discovered that I didn’t pass, I sent Christina a text message and she fully accepted my down-trodden messages first thing in the morning. When I got to school I found a hot chocolate and nice note about egg nog milkshakes (I will be sampling my first this year!) waiting for me.
I’m glad that I got my job all those years ago because having a friend that can be a Happy Place feels good.
So, apparently this was not the year for me to get my National Board Certification. I logged in yesterday morning to be told that I fall short of being a highly qualified teacher. I spent the rest of the day feeling sorry for myself. My students had no clue that anything was wrong, which was exactly how it should be.
I was unaware, until yesterday, of how many hugs my students give me each day. I found their little arms wrapping around me so endearing, a little bit of their light filling the darkness that I was feeling.
I feel so much better waking up today and having tomorrow behind me.