Another last day of school

In two days, our school year will be over. This marks seven years of last day of school's I've had as a new teacher. And not one so far has gone by without me leaking at least a few tears. Every year, I vow I will not be that teacher - I will not cry and make myself look foolish! But, something unexpected always seems to trigger it - a parent's kind words, an unexpected hug, a handmade card - and I am off! Still, I'm beginning to understand the cyclical nature of teaching: everything feels new and fresh in August; things feel tired and frustrating by January; then changes on the horizon are  brewing by March or April. I have to get used to things changing, it's just that way it goes. Maybe more so than in any other career, in teaching we see the physical signs of change every day...these kids come in so small, unable to do so many things. By 8th grade, they exit with confidence and seem almost worldly. I saw it in Cooper last night, as we celebrated his middle school graduation. He looks more like someone who is headed off to college next year, not high school. There is no fighting it, they all are growing up and moving on, and that's the way it's suppose to be. But today I snuck in a few extra-long hugs - for Margaret and Beatrice, whose parents just informed us they're separating this month. For Jane, whose mom said she loves me so much, she is sad to think of moving on to first grade. For Henry and Gus, who are sweet boys that will be entering two new schools in the fall. And Bobby Kim, who likes to think of me as a human climbing structure - the grin on his face and the gleam in his eyes means he literally walks all over me, with little protest on my part. I sneak in the hugs, and then...I have to let them go. If I did my job well, I will remain in their hearts, at least for a little while. I saw it in the eyes of Cody and Tucker, Sam and Carson when they visited our school last month - they still remembered me and thought back fondly of our times in kindergarten and second grade together. Just think, like a grandmother with many grandchildren, I will soon have a whole army of kids out there that will have some connection with me. Still, it's hard saying goodbye. I hope I can make it through with dry eyes. But if not...oh, well. That's love for you.