Change is Coming

When I wrote my Lean On Me post about my job ending in a couple months, it seemed far away. Now June 2nd, our last day, is only days away.  Mixed emotions go through me.

On one hand a lot of us are anxious to leave. Only because there has been tension with our Director and working around a tense boss is just draining. Plus it is hard to keep up enthusiasm for lesson plans when you know that all is ending soon.

On the other hand, none of us want to say goodbye. Yes, some of us will keep in touch with each other, but its still not the same as seeing each other 5 days a week. Of sharing the same experience and all the inside jokes.

Saying goodbye to the little ones, is a whole different story. These children are what have kept us smiling through all of this. Their affection and joy was contagious. They have no idea that things are going to change. We know that if they see tears in our eyes on Friday they are going to want to know why as they tenderly try to wipe it away. 2-3 year olds can have such tender ways about them.

These little ones are ones that would greet us enthusiastically every morning with  big hug as smiles lit up their faces. Ones that would pronounce your name in some of the cutest ways. It wouldn’t matter what state of mind I may be in when I would walk into work some days, their greetings always made me smile and warmed my heart.

No matter how crazy they may drive you that day when they were finally asleep they looked like angels. As you sat there and stroked their forehead or rubbed their back, you forgave them for making you want to pull out your hair earlier.

We got peed on and vomited on, but we still didn’t hesitate to hold their feverish bodies close to our chest when they were sick.

These are children that we hope we made an impact on for the years that we had them. Children that we had fun dreaming about what they would do when they grew up. We know who the politicians and lawyers will be. We know two girls who are destined to be actresses and one girl who who we are going to keep an eye out for. She will probably be the youngest child ever to attend some prestigious college! You could have the most interesting conversations with this child who only turned 2 in April!!

Yes she can have the typical 2 year old temper tantrums, but she is gifted. We would sing the 5 Little Ducks song a lot. It has motions and just a simple song of where Mama and 5 little ducks go swimming, but one by one the ducks don’t follow her back. A counting song. This dear child would make such a very sad face when we got down to just 1 little duck going swimming with Mama. When asked why she was sad. ” Mama is very sad, where did all her babies go?” When we added the part about how the  5 little ducks came swimming back her face just glowed. 🙂

So many experiences and memories and I will treasure them. Am grateful for this time in my life and the friendships that were made. I do look forward to the summer and the change. No alarm clock to set, spending time with my teens and spending more time writing! I have the children’s book with Colin that we have been working on, and another writing project that was put on the back burner, that I would like to finish. I have special days that I am going to spend with my sister and I  can’t forget the beach trip with my dear friend Sherry! Plus there are more fun adventures that  this summer may hold.

So it is anticipation mixed with some sadness, that I feel as June 2nd approaches, but I have a peace that all will be well. I don’t know yet what the Fall will hold as far as a job. I do have some ideas of what I want to happen, will see. Who knows what is around the next bend.

As for now I will just cherish the moments and take a lesson from my little ones. Keep smiling, keep laughing and keep spinning around with joy!