Ebony's post

[Trina]

First of all, Ebony, let me join the others who have told you how 
beautiful and touching your post is.  I was reminded of *my* kids 
down here in the Carolinas (both North and South--I've lived and 
worked in both places) who are starting the race after the bell 
already rang.  

At the first place I worked I had a Kindergartner (waif-like, big 
blue eyes, terrible haircut) who always got out of line in the 
hallway to hug me.  Getting out of line is a big no-no, but her 
teacher never fussed at her-I think she knew she didn't get many hugs 
at home.  The Friday before Mother's Day she came up and hugged me in 
the lunchroom and said "My daddy kicked my mama out of the house and 
we made Mother's Days cards this morning and I cried."  I didn't know 
what to say, I mean, who *would*, but I gave her an extra hug.  

I did home health too, and some of those houses were not to be 
believed.  I could always tell when one family wasn't home because 
the door was padlocked shut.  One child was 4 years old and she'd 
been chewing tobacco since she was 2.  Ask me if this was a choice 
the child made!  The kids I saw loved to see me coming--I was the 
lady with the big blue bag of toys and games.  I read a lot to my 
kids; I think in many cases mama and daddy couldn't.  I was one-on-
one attention from a grown-up who played with them, something they 
didn't see much of.  

Here I have one 1st grader who wants to come to speech every day.  
Last Friday she asked if I was going to see her.  

I said, " I see the girls (in her class) on Monday and Wednesday and 
the boys on Tuesday and Thursdays, and on Fridays..."

"You see me!"  she finished for me.

Again, one-on-one attention from an adult who pays attention to her.

I worry about them and love them and try to show them how special I 
think they are, even when I am giving my Super-mean chair lecture #25 
(Rock that chair back on two legs one more time and you'll stand for 
the rest of speech time!)

Trina, who can't imagine doing anything else for a paycheck.