I wrote this back in August. I'm not sure why I never hit publish,but here it is.
For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to have children. Unfortunately, I have not had biological children, but I have been blessed with approximately 914 babies in the last 18 years. They don't live with me, they go home most days at 3:00 and I give up custody of them every June. I am a teacher and these are the only children I will most likely ever have.
The first came to me as innocent seven year olds. Some scared, some excited, all ready to learn and to be loved. We had great days - lots of laughter, learning and a few tears of frustration (their's and mine). I spent nine months watching them grow. They learned how to do double digit subtraction, write in cursive and began to appreciate authors. I cheered their accomplishments, became a surrogate soccer mom, comforted some as they experienced the death of a loved one for the first time, was an occasional carpool driver and disciplined (when necessary). I can't imagine that it's any different from being a parent to a seven year old.
I moved on from the seven year olds to ten year olds. We had great days - lots of laughter and learning and a few tears of frustration (their's and mine). I spent nine months watching them grow. As with the seven year olds, they continued to learn - how to infer, make a percent from fractions and decimals, and about their changing bodies. I cheered their accomplishments, became a surrogate volleyball mom, comforted some as they experienced the death of a loved one for the first time, watched as they attempted to flirt with each, encouraged them to overcome their fears and disciplined (when necessary). I can't imagine that it's any different from being a parent to a ten year old.
Every June I had to say goodbye to "my babies." Most stayed in the same school and moved up to the next grade. Some moved away (and I moved away). Yet, I have been fortunate enough to know where most of them are today through the beauty of social media. I cannot begin to describe the swelling of pride in my heart when I hear about their accomplishments. Just in the past few weeks, one student began medical school, another graduated from college, yet another begins his first year of college. Right now in my mailbox there is a wedding invitation waiting for me from a former student. My babies are getting married and having babies of their own.
In these last few weeks leading up to a new school year, I think back on all of the children I have had. I may not know where every one of those 900+ are, but for nine months of the year, 7 hours of every day I loved them as my own. Even though they are adults, I still think of them as my babies. Just the way parents think of their children.
When my new group of second graders begins in a couple of weeks I will get 24 new babies and I can't wait for the adventure and to see where they will all go from here.
