When someone knows that today might be difficult...and they are living it first hand too...then you get a special delivery...and your heart smiles. The message was so kind and caring...I cried reading it (a couple of times) But the last two words were the truest of all...Falcons Forever. #loveyouash
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"A soul is healed by being with children." There is something magical...and healing...about the first day of school. For the first time in 30 years I won't get to feel the magic of being with children on this special day. But my heart will be with the kids and the staff at St. Gerard School. May God be with them this school year...and always. HaPpY First Day to all!
Welcome "home". I got this sweet card in the mail last week. It has a recipe for the perfect school year...a thank you note with a pop-up heart and...my favorite part...a love note that says..."I had a fun time living with you in Care Corner." I love that she used the word "living". The essence of my teaching was to have the classroom feel like home. I was in awe of the responsibility of the 6 1/2 hours that parents entrusted their kids to my care. I told parents that there are some days I will see your child more than you will...and I was driven by that. That is why our Care Corner team had to feel like family...that is why the classroom had to feel like home. And that is why this card...this Care Corner Kid...these words...stole my heart...again. It's not about the academics...it never really was. #missinghome
When Lynn Fuller hired me in April (for the next school year) 14 years ago, Adam got me the perfect gift for Mother's Day that year ...a name plate for my desk. It says "Sheila Iding ~ Teacher". He knew I wanted to pour my heart into being a teacher. 14 years later he helped me packed up my classroom and he knew that part of my teacher heart would always be in Care Corner so he again got me the perfect gift...a giant Care Corner bear celebrating the 14 years of Care Corner...and the first grader in me that remains in my teacher heart...forever. Thank you, Adam Thomas...for this "beary" special gift and for the amazing gift of YOU.
Happy Rescue Day to Sweet Bessie Jane. Seven years ago this very day I adopted another classroom pet. There are so many lessons tucked within caring for a classroom pet. I wanted them to learn those lessons. I knew when I became a teacher that I would always have a classroom pet..until I didn't have a classroom anymore. So now I have a pet...a pet who was blessed with the love and care of so many Care Corner Kids. And...who will be loved by a few little Care Corner Kids this school year. HaPpY Rescue Day, Bessie Jane! May St. Francis watch over you always.
Tonight I attended my first official "St. Gerard Staff Alumni" meeting. I still like the word "renew" better than "retire" so we had a little "renewing" party. I have known these three beautiful teachers (and amazing friends) for over 40 years. Thanks for taking such good care of me tonight. You gave me a chance to "renew" my smile again. How blest am I? (Social distancing in place except for one photo op.). #missinghugsSOMUCH
The place I called "home" for 30 years. What a special gift. A great reminder of where you left your heart in case you are still lost and wandering a week later. Thank you, Meica, for knowing "There's no place like home." Can't wait to fill it with the Moscato. Love you for knowing my heart. I hope you have the BEST school year. Be safe. Be well. Be "home". #latitudelongitude.
Blessed...and Beyond Blessed. When a family stops by on their long bike ride with bags filled with special gifts...you are so blessed. The chance to visit with them was gift enough...but there was more. The BLESSED sign will go in my new little prayer corner in my little Care Corner. The beautiful cross this former Care Corner Kid made will also have a sacred place there. (She's an amazing artist.) And yes...there will still be a "thoughtful spot" for my Pooh things including this beautiful new Pooh sign. And yes...I will still wear bracelets everyday including this new one celebrating "family"...the reason I left. And...yes...I will be sharing these yummy muffins with my family (altho the ones with the chocolate chips I might claim as mine.). And yes...the teacher book they got me when I had their first Care Corner Kid a few years ago will have a still have a special place by my books...as will all the many gifts they have spoiled me with over the past few years. But...yes...the bouquet of dandelion crayons that they gave me one open house night before they even knew I was their child's teacher (because I was so sad Crayola discontinued my favorite yellow)...this will always be one of my favorite gifts ever. Because I love the thought...the family...the quote. "In a world full of roses...she chose to be a dandelion." I love that they knew that about me...before I even knew them. I fell in love with the family that open house night when they gave me this "dandelion bouquet" and I never stopped loving them. And...yes...leaving the families of St. Gerard School behind is still the hardest part. And...not hugging them all goodbye today was even harder. Air hugs and blowing kisses are not the same. Nothing seems the same anymore. Except...I am blessed...and beyond blessed.
Closed the door...turned in the keys...and with the help of Adam and Pat...walked away from 30 years of the best memories. How blessed am I that it was so hard to leave this amazing school...this blessed vocation.
We had another quarantine party and a little retirement party broke out. Addie contacted me earlier this week to let me know the kids wanted to cash in another quarantine party coupon...the sidewalk chalk/paint one. We settled on Friday afternoon and I was happy to have a diversion from an emotional week. Little did I know that Joey took the afternoon off...and they planned a little surprise party. There were flowers and bubbly (cheers!) and Bill Knapp's chocolate cake and beautiful cards...and Bia and Lottie even wore party dresses...and we gathered on the porch for the cake. And for just a little bit we forgot about social distancing and snuck in a few hugs. It's been an emotional week to leave a job you love...today was a happy emotional day spent with people I love. Thanks, Joey, Addie and grandies. You made my heart smile.
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AuthorI am Sheila Sims Iding and I am a first grade teacher at St. Gerard School in Lansing, MI. I named my classroom Care Corner and so I get to spend my days with the Care Corner Kids. How blessed am I? I want to share the blessings of the wonder and discovery in first grade through my blogs. I hope you ENJOY! For my writer's blog click here:http://writingprojects.weebly.com/ Archives
January 2020
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