Blog

Our kids need us to be adults. They want us to be adults. They want us to be strong. They want us to be dependable. They want us to show them ways to be successful in this world (although they also need to find their own path). Our kids need us to create environments where there is safety and security, and they can feel free to explore this crazy world and make their own mistakes. I truly believe our kids even want to be disciplined when they cross the line from right to wrong. But none of this is possible if our kids don’t know, deep within the deepest reaches of their souls, that we care.

Our kids need to know we care. Our kids need us, as adults, to be “there.”

This was an awesome week! It was the first whole week I was able to spend with students since they have returned to in-person learning. I am thinking of one particular student in writing these words, but the progress he showed in one week is enough to bring tears to my eyes. In one week, this student went from being the highest priority for concern to being a student we asked to act as a role-model for some of the other students who are struggling these first few weeks. There are no words I could ever write that could even begin to convey how proud I am of this student.

“What did you do?” I was asked this question more than once this week. First, I am only one member of an entire team. I acted WITH many others. But personally, I think I was simply “there” for this student. I was, and will continue to be, an adult who cares about this student. I was, and am, an adult who listens to this student. I was, and still am, an adult who believes in this student.

Most simply, I think I was the adult this young student needed, and that will always be more than enough for an awesome week!