Hard Week

It's a hard week for those of us who make our living educating little ones.  Connecticut's tragedy has me very sad and very grateful right now--sad, no devastated, for those having to endure this tragedy.  And grateful I'm lucky enough to spend my days with children who are funny and silly and insightful: sometimes all at the same time.
Anytime a child is taken from a parent unexpectedly (and I speak from experience here) the question Why? looms large for months, even years later.  Why would someone take a child from this earth who draws pictures like this:

 Or this:

Because that's what six-year-olds in my room have been working on. Fun little pictures of houses and snowfall with a fence and snowmen. Things six and seven year olds think about when it's cold and winter. 

I've been thinking about and praying for all of those who were touched by this horrible thing that invaded our safe place, our happy memories--elementary schools are no place for savage violence.

I'm also needing to deal with this pile:

Work that needs to be hung up, passed back or filed for the April art show.
As long as I deal with it before it topples over on someone, I'll feel OK about it.

I've been enjoying my students a lot this week, just appreciating them for the little people they are right now.  Because childhood is so very short, and they need to be admired for being the people they are right now.  None of us are guaranteed tomorrow.  Enjoy your upcoming time off, but enjoy today for the day that it is.