Week of heartache... a Blu heart!
Last weeks post in Munchkinville was a week of frustration. New munchkins were coming in left and right and I thought I was going to lose it. This past week began with a heartache in my personal life and in the classroom. You try to not to bring your problems into the work place but sometimes it's difficult not to.
A wonderful, dear friend passed 9/5/2010, Sunday morning from cancer. My heart broke when I received the news early that morning but I was also in disbelief. A friendship that went back to my elementary school days had just been ended. It ended only in the physical sense but grew more in my heart and soul.
We had the day off on Monday for Labor Day which made for a short week. Not wanting to accept the death of a friend and not letting myself deal with it or grieve made for a somewhat difficult week. My munchkins actually helped keep my mind off of it until I had to face the memorial at the end of the week.
Heartache in the classroom was due to two different episodes. The first was the outcome of the meetings I had with the moms of my struggling new babies. The outcome was good and the best for each of them. Moms agreed and acknowledged the fact that their babies just weren't ready for 1st Grade and they have seen their child struggle since Kinder or earlier. The support they gave administration and myself was wonderful. Those munchkins were placed back into Kinder but my heart ached when I saw one of them the next day crying. By the end of the week they all fell right into place in their new classroom and are doing great and come by to visit and say hi. They can now become those successful little people that are filled with happiness and come with a love for school.
The second heartache in the classroom was because of what one of munchkins did to another smaller munchkin. One of the Kinder teachers came into my class with two of her munchkins with a look of concern on her face. Right away I knew something was wrong. ~Hmmm....which one of my munchkins did it? Her little one's were the cutest little things and one had been crying. She began to tell me that one of my boys was bullying and making fun of her two little ones. The two little munchkins told her the boy had a mohawk. I knew EXACTLY who that was! My head must have spun so fast the kids probably felt a gush of wind pass them. I felt my eyebrows clench up and my eyeballs almost popped out as I glared at him. He stared back at me with a look of ~What? I asked the little munchkins to go show me who was bothering them and the smallest one went right up to him and pointed him out. When I asked what he did he said he was picking on him and making fun of his hand. At that moment I noticed he had his little left hand in his pocket. I asked him why was he making fun of his hand and that's when his teacher made a sound and said ~no, no. I looked her way and she had a look of fear and she mouthed something I could not understand. The little baby came up to me and slightly hid near me as he gently pulled out his hand from his pocket and said...~He was making fun of my nubby. My heart sank when I saw his hand! He didn't have a hand but a nub at the wrist with what looked like tiny, tiny, little bubbles for fingers. He quickly put his hand back in my pocket. It almost brought me to tears. But instead of tears it turned into anger! One thing is for kids to be curious and I'm sure many are but this little boy that was bothering this special munchkin has bullied other kids before so I was furious! The one thing I DO NOT like are children making fun of ANYONE or bullies!! I had to keep my composure or I was going to lose it! ~I'LL DEAL WITH YOU LATER! My focus went back onto this precious baby who looked so embarrassed and sad. His teacher said she wasn't going to say anything but he was crying and so hurt. I was so moved by this little munchkin that it basically knocked me to the floor and I just hugged him! I sat on the floor infront of him and asked him if I could see his hand again. He placed his little sweet hand in mine and I melted. It was the hardest thing to hold back the tears. I've been holding back tears from my friends death and now this! I found the strength somewhere not to cry. ~It's a different story in writing this as the tears stream down because no one is looking. With his head down he sheepishly looked at me with these beautiful big brown eyes. I apologized to him for such hurtful behavior and told him never to be embarrassed and be proud of his hand. I told him I loved his hand and he smiled and called it his nubby again. I asked him it it was ok that we show the other kids so they can help protect him from other bullies. He held up his hand with a little smile! My other kids reacted in the most beautiful way that kissed my heart. I heard so many sweet things from them ~awww how cute! He's cute! I'll take care of him. I like your hand. This precious little soul lit up with the biggest smile. I looked at my mohawk bully and he looked so mad. Not sure if it was because he knew he was looking at 8 to 10 in solitary confinement...heehee...or because the other kids were giving this precious baby positive love. He had the meanest look on his face that was also sad to see. I told the little precious munchkin that if anyone in this entire school ever bothered or messed with him to come tell me and I would take care of it. He told me ~I can hit hard! heehee ~Really? Show me! I put my hand up and with his other little hand threw a little punch! ~Wow, you're tough! If anyone bothers you don't hit them come tell me and we'll go together and then I might let you hit them. ~Yes, I don't condone violence but.... with this little angel or any other special angel I won't put up with such ugly behavior. I asked him if he felt better now and smiled and nodded yes. ~Can I have a hug and a high five? His little arms made me melt. His high five was with his regular hand. ~Now can I have a nubby five? He smiled and took his hand out of his pocket and gave me a nubby five! <3 Just pulled at my heart strings! The next day, I was passing his class in the hall, not really paying attention to them and I kept hearing ~Hi friend! Hi friend! and it was HIM waving at me!!! Love him...think he's my new favorite but he's not even in my class! haha
You must be wondering what happened to the mohawk bully! Well...he was given LIFE! heehee Just kidding. I actually didn't lose it because I was too furious. Told him how disappointed I was and that he was to show a good example to the little Kinders and instead hurt one with his words. I gave him detention, notified the counselor, admin, and wrote parents a note home. Parents don't answer calls during the day especially if they see school is calling so the note was the next best thing. The following day the counselor stated mom called and wanted her son tested for SPED. ~Come on!!! Being a bully won't be fixed with SPED.
As the week came closer to an end I knew I would have to deal with my friends death and his memorial. I wanted to see friends that I had not seen in over 25 years but not for the reason we were reconnecting. I've always taught my munchkins to be kind to each other and take care of each other. I tell them that many of them will remain friends for life. I had the talk again reminding them of this and mentioning my dear friend who passed. When I told them that I knew my friend and his family for most of my life they didn't quit understand that concept of time and just said WOW! Haha
Well, the memorial came and it was heartbreaking but also rewarding to see friends from elementary school and high school who played an important role in my life and will always remain close to me. I look forward to strengthening those relationships and bonds. We all may not be close in miles by but close in our hearts. Friendships are so dear!
A new week...a new adventure! Stay tuned...
XOXO's
