Reacting to the New Town Tragedy:  Answering Questions

I have seen and heard many anticipatory statements about how today will go. 

 "Will it be difficult to go back to the classroom? 

Will it be difficult to handle the impending yet unanswerable questions?

 Will it be difficult to reassure the kids and families of their safety at your school?" 

 I am here to say that though ALL of our hearts are broken, and ALL of our sense of security in the world is shaken, today will be just like every other day in my class. We will laugh, learn, play, connect, validate each other's thoughts and feelings. We will lift each other up, encourage each other, support each other. We will high five, give "knucks", innovate, create, and share. This tragedy isn't going to change how I teach or react and interact with my students...it shouldn't. I teach and cultivate a learning environment where students feel safe, loved, appreciated, and valued by ALL of us everyday. It is what we do anyway, tragedy or not. 

So will it be difficult to go into work? 

NOPE. I am excited for the learning that will take place today and this week! I am excited to see them and learn from them. 

Will it be difficult to handle the impending yet unanswerable questions? 

 NOPE. The answer is the same, "You matter, you are loved, and you are safe." No need to address anything else with 2nd graders. They know there are bad guys out there, but we just learned that a lot of the time good will prevail, so...I think they should hang onto that. We all should. Bad things happen, yes, and this certainly was horrific. For the parents of the fallen, it is the most unimaginable horror. But if it changes an entire population's perspective and way of thinking for the better...well, then at least some good resulted. Doesn't make it easier on any of us, nor diminish the pain of brevity of the act. 

 And finally, will it be difficult to reassure your kids and families that they are safe at your school...maybe, but I believe that at least my families and my students know that with ME they are safe. And our entire faculty and staff feel the same way I do. We are family. 

So, I am excited for today. And to honor the kids and teachers who lost their lives Friday, I vow to continue to teach from my soul, to never stop learning, to value and cherish every opportunity to impact a child's life positively, and to do 20 random kindnesses everyday, in their memory. Doesn't take much to constitute a kindness for someone else. And if we all did that, hmmm...

I wish you all a safe, happy, wonderful Monday. Enjoy yourself, your opportunities, every breath. But hold onto this feeling of togetherness we are sharing right now. Don't let it go. 

♥ It's 6:00...TIME TO CHANGE LIVES! :-)