Saturday, December 19, 2009

A Different World

I know many of my students live in poverty.
I know many of my students' parents work minimum wage jobs.
I know many of my students have second hand clothes.
I know many of my students get holiday gifts from the Salvation Army.
I know many of my students don't have winter coats.
I know many of my students live with multiple families.
I really do know all of this.

However, it still hurt yesterday when a little one was sharing a foam snowflake she had decorated and made into an ornament. The kids asked her about it and she said, "My mom, on my birthday last year, couldn't get me a present so she got me this now."

She was so matter-of-fact about not getting a present on her birthday. She was so excited about this foam snowflake. I hurt for her and was so amazed by her.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like my class. Parents do the best they can. Usually that is enough for kids. Materialism aside, you can do a lot worse than being loved by your parents.

Launa Hall said...

Wow, thanks for this reminder and this insight.

Teacher Tom said...

Darn it. I wasn't going to cry today.

Shelf Elf said...

I teach in such a priviliged community, but I did my practicum teaching in an "inner city" school. There were so many moments like this that I remember from that experience. Some kids have so much to accept, and they do it with grace.