Mitmit

Sometimes it is so hard to believe that I have been a   kindergarten teacher for a year now. My little ones have  graduated and I will face another bunch of "prince and princesses" next year.

I have always assumed children nowadays to be pampered, rude and disobedient. My little darlings have proved me wrong though. Yes, there were some in my class that needed a lot of work in their lives (not to mention plenty of spanking!). However, during the last week I have seen the generousity of little children and their capacity to love so purely. I do not perceive myself to be a great kindergarten teacher. While it is a fact I love little children and find then most amusing, I do balk at the idea of talking to those rude and ‘full of themselves’ type. Plus, I certainly have no patience when it comes to noisy ones, especially when I woke up from the wrong side of the bed in the mornings.

Whatever the type of children, as a teacher I had to deal with them whether I like it or not and in the process, I have made many mistakes. Sometimes i was harsh and other times I scolded them without finding out the truth. (Finding out the truth is a very tedious and time consuming process that sometimes as adults we just don’t bother with). Anyway, during the last week of school was a very relaxed week and I had time to play a bit more and hug my children. I realized that no matter how many times I have reprimanded them or on rare occasions spanked them (only veeeery lightly on hands-these were other people’s children after all :Þ) they still loved me. They would smile when I smiled, they beamed when I approved of what they did and I know they would cry if I cried.

With the expressive children, I know I am loved. However, the quieter ones usually keep their love in their hearts. My heart was warmed by one of the strong and silent type last week. This particular boy told me he had a present for me and gave it to me proudly the next morning. I already knew it was a hair-band by touching it. So, I said my thank you’s and unceremoniously kept it in my pocket. However, at the end of the day  before he went home the little boy told me very seriously, "Teacher, tomorrow you wear ah."

As I stood there looking at him, all of a sudden I realized how much thought he put into the gift and how important it is that I wear it. Maybe he was so worried that I did not like it. I touched the present in my pocket and told myself I’d wear it no mater what it looked like because it made a difference. I was so impatient to find out what the gift was like that I opened it in my car even though my house is only 5 minutes drive away. I discovered that it was a simple black hairband with a ribbon on top. On the ribbon was many tiny red jewels that made it sparkle. I knew it was only glass and it’s simple costume jewellery but I felt like a princess receiving a crown laden with red rubies and diamonds.

Truly, children are generous.