Last year it was not uncommon for me to answer my cell phone in the middle of meetings or to pick up my deskphone even when I was eyeballs-deep in the middle of monthend accruals. Last year was so hard, those first months of school, when it seemed like at least every other day I had to get back in my car, abandon whatever I was in the middle of, and go rescue my son - who could not cope with school.
The nurse at his school was his safe person. If his teacher absolutely could not deal with him or he was having too hard a time, they would take him to the nurse's office and she would talk to him if she could, soothe him as much as possible, and if she thought he needed to hear mom's loving voice or needed to go home, she would call me. She was such a big help to me last year, and she was so dedicated to my son. She really made a big difference to us, and when he moved schools this year she was one of the people I felt a twinge of regret about, because she really does care for him and I hated that he was losing that connection.
Yesterday I was in the middle of a meeting with one of the floor supervisors at work, problem solving and information-gathering, and my cell phone rang. For the first time in a long time - possibly the first time this school year - I answered my cell phone because it was from the school district number.
It was our nurse from last year.
She was at my kids' new school substituting for that school's nurse and she had gotten to see my son. The reason she was calling was...
...to absolutely rave about how mature and calm and happy he was and how delighted she was to get to talk to him.
I am flooded with emotion.
Gratitude for teachers and staff who genuinely love my children and care about their interests and needs.
Fierce pride in my son.
Love. Joy. Hope. Anticipation.
Its one of those moments that more than makes up for the times when we struggle, when things go wrong, when its hard to just take any more steps forward. This is the kind of moment that recharges the batteries and makes everything seem possible.
The smile on my face will last for days.
