Retirement

Retirement

What does this mean to me?

Saying Good-bye to all the students (my kids).

I will miss all the chit-chat, hard talks,

 stories of all and every kind.

Meaningful conversations.
Helping with homework.

Hilarious moments that brought me to tears.

My parental "talking to's". 

Inspiring, Advising, Cheering, Scolding,

Teaching, Loving

them with every ounce of my being.

Cherishing every minute of them.

Every year it gets harder to let them go.
This year was the hardest.

I will miss all of them very much.

(Where is my Kleenex?)

Cards from my TA's 

They called me "Mom".

Even their moms called me Mom!

I saved a few cards from over the years.
Now it's time to let them go.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Saying Good-bye to the parents who called or
came into my office.
To all the moms who stepped up and volunteered.

Giving parents updates, advice, information of all sorts
(even the weather!).

Calming them down, building them up. 

Listening, listening, listening and listening.

Thank you card from a mom volunteer.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Saying Good-byes to staff members.

Watching  "family members" come and go.

Sharing life events, weddings, births, deaths.

Getting over loaded with conversation, work, and time.

Celebrating all kinds of things, like birthdays, weight loss,
 hair styles, even pedicures.

Parties that lasted into the wee hours. 

Luncheons, luncheons and more luncheons.
Standing or sitting on those hard bleaches to
cheer on the school team.

Committees of every kind,
the decorations committee, safety committee,
cheer leading committee, 

sports committee, clean-up committee, technology committee.

And of the pranks. Oh the pranks!
Some planned with precise and elaborate details. 

Or the spur of the moment doozies.

Retirement card from the school.

The inside signed by...

the staff.

Retirement Celebration at school

Eleven years of my life.
Sometimes I find it hard to say good-bye and let go.

But then I look to the future.
My heart beats faster and a huge smile grows.



Hello future!

Lulu and Kimmy's card to me 

Lulu

Levi

Ila May

Baby Boy due in August.

Retirement!