Moving

Today was the last day for a little girl in our class today; she and her family are moving 2 hours away. She didn't want to leave, and we didn't want to lose her. It was a melancholy touch to a spectacular Fun Friday. We had a blast in the new Dress-up Center, rocked out to new songs, played and imagined in Free Centers, but every so often this little girl would walk up and hug me, or hug a friend, trying to make a memory. So at the end of the day, inspired by another teacher blog, I took one of our reading buddies (stuffed animals) and passed it around on the carpet. I explained that we were going to fill it with hugs to give to our friend who is moving away; when she misses us, she can hug the animal and feel our hugs. My students were delighted, and told the bunny "I miss you" and gave it huge squeezes. When we presented it to our departing friend, she squeezed it tight and smiled. We dismissed with lots of hugs and goodbyes, but oddly enough, not tears. It makes me sad that these little hearts have learned to say goodbye so early in life. But then, that's life. Hellos and goodbyes and all the good times in between.