Precious Moments

            Now that I have retired, I am able to substitute as a principal several days each month. Being a sub has provided a whole new perspective for me. Since the doors of the school buildings are now locked for safety precautions, and I don’t have to attend the bajillion morning meetings that consume a principal’s time, I am able to stand at the door and greet the children as they enter the building. I am able to just be present without the hundreds of thoughts swirling through my brain about all of the “stuff” in the life of a building administrator. 

            Yesterday, I had the opportunity to greet our district’s kindergarten and first grade students as they separated from their parents to come into the school. It was fascinating to me to see the different ways parents chose to say their goodbyes. Some dropped them at the street and allowed their children to walk the entire walkway to the front door unescorted. Some held their hand right up to the door. Some carried their children’s bookbags for them. Some had to remind their child to give a kiss goodbye. One father hid around a corner to watch as his daughter entered the building, not wanting her to know he was still keeping his eyes on her. A mom had some special kissing routine that I had never seen before. She kissed her son’s face in every location – the eyebrow, the chin, the cheeks, the nose. I had to wonder how much longer he will let her do that in public, but it sure was touching!

            The one theme that resonated with me, however, was that no matter how the drop-off took place, the message I heard over and over again, was “I love you.” School personnel sometimes think parents don’t really care about their children because they do not hold the same values about education as typical middle class families do. But those values really have nothing to do with love. It warmed my heart to see children hear those precious words as they entered the building, separating for the next seven and a half hours. It was a wonder to behold to see these five and six year olds move from home to school with a hug and kiss and a quick “I love you,” knowing it would sustain them until the end of the school day.

            Precious moments do hold much power and I was grateful to be able to spend some time actually noticing!