The hard parts...

The kids make me laugh every day.
I truly love my job and am happy with the work I've chosen to do. It really is a great fit for me.

Eric has mentioned on occasion that he doesn't like me having to work.
But I'm not homeschooling my own kids anymore (I'm about to have an empty nest all summer, the younger chick is going to visit a friend all summer long and the big chick is moving out permanently in a few weeks) and I don't want to be at home full time.

He says it makes it a lot easier for him to think about me working because he knows I love it there and am happy.

I said all that so I could say this, though.

Saying goodbye to kids is so hard for me!
That caring I do makes the inevitable growing up/moving on thing really difficult. I mean, I get past it and move on... looking forward to summer and to the new crop of kids I'll have in the fall. It's a logical progression and I wouldn't change it. Wouldn't hold a kid back just 'cause it's hard to say goodbye. But it's my least-favorite part of the job.

I said goodbye to Kelly* on Tuesday afternoon. She will be going on to middle school in the fall, and Tuesday was her last day with me. She's a sweet girl with a sense of humor and a gift for being kind to the younger kids. I love seeing them take care of each other in my program.

Digression alert!! Digression alert!!

Age segregation is such a strange thing, really. Did you ever think about it? The way they sort kids into categories and work hard to keep those categories from mixing is a very odd thing. We all had to go through it... who'd believe it if they hadn't?

I understand ability grouping better than age grouping, but both things limit people, don't you think? So many people who could learn from each other aren't allowed to because of age or academic achievement.

End digression... I can't seem to formulate my thoughts coherently about this topic tonight anyway. :)

I gave Kelly a hug, told her to please stop by and say hi to me sometime, and that if she is out running around the track we share with the middle school during times I have my kids outside, she's not allowed to pretend like she doesn't know me. :)

And then turned back to Evan* and Dave*, the last two kids left and taught them how to play Blink, which is a kick ass card game.

Evan is one of those kids that I'm going to have trouble saying goodbye to next year. I've had him in my program since I started at my site in 2009. He and Liam* will be the first ones that I've had their entire elementary school careers at this site. And Dave is Rachelle's* little brother. I first met him when he was still in diapers and not even talking much.

How has so much time gone by already?

My son will be 26 this month. I was 26 when he was born.
My sweet daughter will be 20.

Gah. I want a do over!!!