Month: January 2022

What’s in a Name?

MelissaLeave a comment

Have you ever had such an amazing day at work that you were sad it was Friday and you wouldn’t get to go the next day?

No? That makes me super weird? That’s fair.

But that’s how great today was.

My mashed potato loving student from my last post (I’ll call him MP going forward) mentioned his birthday was coming up. And by “mentioned” I mean he told me a minimum of twice each day for the past week. Based on what I knew about him, I was guessing not much (if anything) would be done to celebrate. I asked him, “If you could do anything for your birthday, what would you pick?”

His answer was, “I would have a cake!”

My heart pretty much shattered right there on the classroom floor.

Well, buddy, if you want a cake, I can do a cake. The other staff pitched in toward the cost and I picked it up from the grocery store last night for today’s mini-surprise party.

The setup: MP was scheduled for my 12:55 class. All of the “littles” (kids under 13) would come to the classroom at 1:00 to sing and eat cake. I had the cake sitting on the table where the students’ work folders are usually sitting.

MP walked in the room and I shouted, “Happy birthday!” He looked at me funny, looked at the table, and said, “Where’s my work folder?”

Dude.

As the other kids were coming in, he looked down again and then noticed the cake. “Oh! It’s for me?!” he shouted.

Yeah, buddy, it’s for you.

Don’t be jealous of my epic photo editing skills.

We all sang Happy Birthday and then dove into that cake. There was frosting on every face and table top. There was sugar rushing through the veins of every person in the room. We had a yummy good time.

When MP came back for a second piece of cake he said, “I’ve never had my name on a cake before!”

Ugh. Right in the feels.

He said “thank you” at least two dozen times during that hour he was in our classroom.

MP, thank YOU. Thank you for teaching me that I take so much for granted. Thank you for reminding me that little things—like a name on a cake—can be so meaningful. Thank you for making me feel special everyday when you shout “Hi, Teacher!” to me in the cafeteria and give me a high-five as I pass through. Thank you for being your unique, special, amazing self.

Happy birthday, MP.

You Can Make a Dream Come True

Melissa1 Comment

Most days my job fills my soul; I laugh until I cry and the hours between 8 and 4 disappear faster than a box of Little Debbies left on my kitchen counter.

Some days my job stabs my soul; I want to cry until I can fix all the ugliness in my students’ lives and it breaks me that I can’t.

One of these days happened last week. As I do just about every day, I got a new student who had just started as a patient in the Child and Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program. Like all of my kids, all I knew about him when he walked in my classroom was his name and age.

He was one of those people that instantly captures a piece of you soul without even trying. His sweet, kind personality immediately swooped in and took hold of my heart.

As with all my new kiddos, I invited him to fill out his choice of getting-to-know-you sheets. This is what he wrote:

No family. No friends. I immediately wanted to go home and make him mashed potatoes and gravy. Instead, we found some math that was a good fit for him and we visited while he worked. When he finished his math, he asked if he could spell words using the magnets on the filing cabinet. Of course you can! He asked for spelling help, and when he was done he stepped to the side so I could read what he wrote:

This sweet boy, who doesn’t even have most of the people or things I take for granted, has a better outlook on life than I do many days.

I grumble about a messy house left in the wake of my boys. I complain that I’m tired and don’t want to do all these dishes or that pile of laundry. But those things are only present because of the family I get to come home to everyday. I’ve seen signs that say, “Bless this mess.” I need one that says, “Blessed by this mess.”

Looking forward, my goal is to reframe the lens through which I see “my messy house” and focus on the family I love so dearly. They may be dirty, sloppy boys, but they are MY dirty, sloppy boys. They make my dreams come true and I am beyond thankful for them everyday.

I’m still brainstorming a legitimate reason to explain how I can bring mashed potatoes and gravy to school tomorrow. Let me know if you have any ideas.