I'll Miss It

Today was my last day ever as an Extended Day Counselor.

For two and a half years (minus summers) I have gone 3 to 4 times a week to work at a local private school.

For me it was more than just being a babysitter.

I've tried my hardest to be a disciplinarian, a mediator, a facilitator, a teacher, a tutor, a friend when one was needed, a listener when one was needed, a talker when one was needed.

I always did my best to just be their, to be fully present.

So times I got it wrong, other times I got it right.

Often I was called "mean" but when I pressed them they acknowledged that I was mostly always "fair".

I'll miss the young one's.




There's something to be said about their honesty, their forthrightness, their lack of fear, their belief in their invincibility, and above all when I was able to see they believed in me.




So when one of my bosses reminded the 1st and 2nd graders that when I left they wouldn't see me for a while. I almost cried for real. The eyes got misty. A few tears came. But then I manned up. I couldn't go out like that!

As I have come to realize recently I'm much more attached and more invested in some things than I originally thought.

The experience as hard as it was, as frustrating as it was, I can truly say it was a blessing.