Tokens of Affection

One of the perks of being a teacher to young ones is when small tokens of genuine love get shared with you as you go about your day. Parents must get to enjoy this all the time, but those of us without our own children are reminded what a gift these unsolicited gestures truly are. As kindergarteners go, Surina charms me on a regular basis. She and I have a special connection... I taught her a couple month's ago how to make origami cranes, and she is now working diligently to meet her goal of 1,000 so her wish will come true (as is the Japanese tradition). We are warm with each other, but not physically affectionate like I sometimes am with some of her classmates. That is what makes each relationship unique – you have to read the child, and meet them where they meet you. This afternoon, out of the blue, Surina presented me with a big card covered in paper flowers. Since it was given to me so late in the day, I assumed it was a forgotten craft she had just rediscovered in her backpack, something made the day before at aftercare now ready to be taken home when she decided to give it me instead. That was when I saw the hand-written card stapled to it's side – “To Carla. I love you. This is a valley of red roses I made for you out of tissue paper. Love, Surina” Of course, all of this was written with phonemic wording, using best-guess spelling patterns and punctuation we've been practicing. My heart grows two sizes larger at times like this, as I’m once again reminded that I need these children as much as they need me. Teaching is the right job for me, of that there is no denying.