My son is entering 7th grade next year and as a school project from his English teacher, he had to write a letter to a grade school teacher telling them what they meant to him. He brought me his letter and it was to his Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Christiansen.
In the letter, he talked about the fact that he remembered the songs, how she believed in him and how she challenged him. He said he was a little sad to leave grade school but "that's life". I was touched by his letter and as a mom was happy he had those memories.
When he started Kindergarten, his teacher called us in and said that he was challenged with his speech with some of his words. As parents, we did not hear it and when he did get some words incorrect, we had thought it "cute". Determined to give him the support he needed, we ended up taking him to a speech therapist. Blessed to find someone who made it fun for him, we went three times a week in the evenings. The first bill was shocking so I started freelancing in addition to my full-time job to make it all work.
It was a little blip in the road and when you are in the process, you do not reflect. You simply go through it. Now, years later, I am thrilled to know that his memories are of happiness. And, I will always be grateful to that first teacher who cared enough to help.
