Today, I grieve.
I grieve for all that is lost.
The missed parties.
The missed celebrations of birthdays.
The missed field trips.
The missed graduations.
The missed fun.
The missed morning meetings.
Smiles.
Laughter.
Joy.
Hugs.
Yesterday, Governor Wolf officially closed Pennsylvania schools for the remainder of the school year. This was not unexpected; I knew it was coming. That does not make it easier. The sting of sadness, grief, and loss was more unexpected. It hurts my heart. I miss my students. I miss learning with and from them in my classroom. I miss the community we have together built together since September. I miss greeting each one of them at the door in the morning and saying goodbye to them at the end of the day. I miss our centers, our games, our dance parties. I am sad I will not have a definitive end to my first year teaching preschool.
But, we carry on. We carry on from the grief and the sadness and the loss. Because we’re teachers. We continue to teach in ways we never knew were possible and in ways we just learned two weeks ago.
We teach.
Through all of this, we will continue to teach our kids.
But, more importantly.
We love.
Through all of this, we will continue to love our kids. Remind them they are loved and not forgotten because they are not at school. We will continue to make connections with them and connect them to their classmates who have become like family.
Our classrooms really do become a family.
A family that right now is apart and trying to figure out how to make it all work.
It is not lost on me that yesterday was also Maundy Thursday. The last meal Jesus shared with His disciples before His cruxifixction. They eat together and Jesus gives the disciples a new commandment saying:
“Little children, yet a little while I am with you…A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
This teacher hopes she taught her students that commandment.
Because, isn’t that really the most important?