Day #84/365- She Will Remember This Forever!

Usually I "add up" all of the greatness of the day to equal "The Sum of a Splendid Saturday."  Today, however, I would like to focus on one small portion of the day if you don't mind.  It's just too nice of a memory to not explain.

In order for this to make any sense, we need to flashback to Wednesday.  My students entered the classroom, as they always do, and began unpacking their backpacks.  One of my students unpacked a ticket from her backpack, brought it over to me and said, "This is for you."  I of course asked what it was a ticket for before I had even looked at it.  She said, "It's for my ballet recital.  They gave us four family tickets and I told my mom that she could only use three of the tickets because I want you to come."  ::Insert feelings of heart melting::  I immediately gave her a great big hug and said, "I wouldn't miss it!"  Her face just lit up like a Christmas tree!  And mine did too.  Here is one thing I know for sure- there are moments when parents ask you to come to events because they are proud of their kids and want to show them off (I would do the same thing if I were a parent).  There are other moments when a child initiates the inviting and you know the parents had nothing to do with it- and that to me, is the most genuine, rewarding invitation of all. 

So this afternoon, I Soaked Up the Sunnyside of attending a ballet recital at the beautifully, quaint, Historic Asolo Theater.  And the best part about this recital is that three of the girls in my class were in it, plus many of my former students who are now in fourth and fifth grade.  I sat with their families (met the cousins, aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas), laughed with them, said "awe" with them as the girls came onstage in their adorable tutus and clapped really loudly with them as their ballerinas pranced to the wings.  It's funny- I feel like I felt just as proud of them as their parents did. 

Afterward, I stayed and went to the backstage pick-up area with my student's family.  I figured, there is no way she could have seen me while she was on the stage dancing and I wanted her to know that I really came.  As she walked out the door, she blew right past her mother (sorry mom), ignored her Aunt as she tried to hug her (sorry Aunt) and ran right to me smiling and yelling, "You came!  You came!"  "Of course I came- I told you I wouldn't miss it," I said.  Her face was all smiles as the other girls in my class came running up behind her and sandwiched me with their hugs too.  We had our picture taken and then said our goodbyes.  The families all thanked me and told me how much it meant to their girls for me to come.  I of course returned the thank you by explaining how honored I was to be asked. 

One of my friends said, "She will remember this forever."  You know what?  I think she's right.  And to know I will be the teacher in her memory that makes her smile thinking of the day, makes me smile too.