Last Day

Today was my last day of school and the kid's last day of daycare.



Leaving my students wasn't AS bad as I thought it would. I guess because I'm used to seeing my 8th graders off to highschool. However...saying goodbye to coworkers is a different story. I only really said bye to one today. She was my across the hall teacher. I didn't know what to expect when I moved to that room. She is older and I'd heard one teacher just complain about her all the time. Well...I just FELL IN LOVE with her! I learned soooo much from Mrs. Collier! Her students patiently (and quietly) wait outside her room for her every day. They go to their seat before the tardy bell and are always quiet. They raise their hands...etc. I cried to her when my kids were mean, I cried to her when I had to come back after maternity leave, and I cried when I said goodbye today. I had no clue she would make such an impact on me, but she did!!!

THEN...I went to pick the kids up from daycare. It seemed just like another pickup...but as Mrs. Tammy whispered goodbye sweethings into Natalie's ear...I realized this was her last time to keep them. I started welling up with tears and so did she. I then realized that she had kept Cole since he was 7 weeks old. And Natalie too. She saw them ALMOST as much as I had for their whole lives. How hard it must be on her to have kids come and go. She took pics of the kids over the past few days and put them in a small photo album. My favorites are of Cole and his best friend Marky. It BREAKS MY HEART to know that he won't even remember Marky..but they LOVE each other!!! They chased eachother around that house and laughed and hugged and played. (I'm crying again as I type this).

Sooo...tomorrow I have a work day. it'll be my last official day with my teacher friends. I'm not looking forward to saying goodbye. I guess I've been avoiding thinking about how I won't see them daily next school year. SIGH....