Saying Good Bye is Difficult for Me!

My exchange student is leaving Tuesday.  I have looked forward to this day for a long time for many reasons.  Well it is here and I am sad.  I have been so focused on my preschool class, that I had very little time to dwell on A leaving my home and leaving the great country we live in.

This past Thursday, I had to say good bye to a few of my preschool friends as they are leaving the preschool.  I had 4 of them for 2 years and this year, they went to another teacher.  I was very sad letting go.  It was my privilege to have been one of their first teachers who has molded them to become the best that they can become.  It has been a joy to be a part of their lives.  I have a special relationship with each one, different and unique.  It is hard for me to explain the feelings I have towards those special 4 children. 

I had to say goodbye to some of my first year kids as lead teacher as they will be going to other preschools for the 4 year old program.  Some I was extremely sad to say good-bye to some not so difficult.  I have feelings for these children and hate that one day when I meet them in the grocery store, they will not remember me.  Their parents will remember and know that I have touched them in a special way.

I was reading a blog today about a preschool teacher.  She was reminiscing about the year and what she could have done with her class and did not.  I have often thought about that myself.  I could have done....
but do not have the time.  She put this is perspective-you touch a child with what you have done not with what you could have done.  That is so very true.  So for next year, I will focus on the day and not think about what I could have done. 

So come Tuesday, as I hand A over to her mom and thank her for sharing her with us, there will be tears. I will see her for the next 2 weeks before they head back to Germany on June 7 but she will not be here everyday.  I have come to care for A.  I was telling my friend the other day, I was concerned because when I think about A leaving my house, I was not emotional.  As I asked her today, what her plans were, I got very emotional.  The tears just streamed down my face.  As I have mentioned, I like the girl A, I hate the situation.  So for now, I will think of all the memories we have shared since November, the good, the bad, the ugly.  I will think of all the things we did and not the things we should have done.