For those of you who are in education, you know that the week before Christmas can test your patience. Even the fullest of full moons don't touch the amount of nuttiness that even the best students produce during this particular time of the year. Sugary snacks atop sugary snacks for sometimes day-after-day-after-day can amount to one of the highest sugar rushes and energy bursts possible. I can't lie, I'm glad to be cozied up in my pajamas on the couch, Christmas tree lit and candles burning. Now if only my Duplin Scuppernog would hurry up and chill, we'd be set.
As I reflect over the past hours before our Winter break, I am thankful for the nuttiness. Today at 10:00 AM our entire school was invited to the gym to participate in a sing-a-long. Students filed into the gym, excited as could be (post-sugary snacks, day two). Teachers sat along the edges of the long rows of hyped up kids, some grading papers, some checking cell phones, some singing along with the students. Now, I admit, I've never been the biggest fan of singing children. Children who sing in large masses usually begin to scream and to me, that's not pleasant to listen to. I typically pack my grade book and a pen and get my grading done while they enjoy. I had these trusty items with me, however, for whatever reason; I didn't have quite the interest in spelling scores today. As the children sang their racket for all to hear, I found myself in tears. It wasn't from the decibel level, but more so, that I had the opportunity to hear these happy, exuberant voices. As I took in the sights and sounds around me, I thought about two things:
1) This sing-a-long was more than likely the ultimate fun for any one child in that gym today. Looking across the sea of kids, I saw so many bright smiles as they sang along to the lyrics of "Jingle Bells" and "Here Comes Santa Claus" I remember how excited I was to begin the Winter break as a child with special Christmas programs at school. I remember thinking of these programs as a "kick-off" to the Christmas season for my family and I. These were the times that I got to spend with my friends before being gone for a week-and-a-half. As adults, that time goes by so quickly, but to a child, that time creeeeeeeeeps by. Throughout the rest of the day, even my "big" 5th grade kiddos could be heard humming to the tune "Must Be Santa". To a teacher who is counting down her hours, this is music to her ears!
2) I am so fortunate to work at a place where I feel safe and cared for. After the tragedies of a mere week ago in Newtown Connecticut, we have all been a little jumpy. My school is a wonderful place to be, and I am so thankful this time of year to spend my time there. We all complain about Common Core, PLC meetings, no time for planning, lack of duty free lunch, etc., etc., etc., but what I have come to realize is that I am very well taken care of. The students who attend my school are taken care of. We all work ours off to take care of theirs.
So as I looked across the 600+ loudly singing voices in the hot gym today at 10:20 AM, I decided that recording my kids' spelling test grades could wait. I could grade them over a glass of wine sometime this week. What was important was taking in the moment. The here and now is all that we are ever blessed with. No one really knows what tomorrow holds, and hey, why not sing off key every once-in-a-while? I'm sure Santa doesn't mind. =)
