#30DaysofLearning Day 22 - Bright Moment to Light My Week

Day 22 was a day that started and ended with big smiles.  In the morning, I made my way back to the school building where I had served as acting Principal for a week.  I wasn't there for a meeting.  I wasn't going to observe teachers.  I only wanted to see the young people that took up so much of my time.  

I have a special place in my heart for the tough cookies.  Yes, they take a large portion of a day, but they are still developing their brains and learning to cope with the curve balls life throws their way.  Inside of them are human beings that want a connection as much as anyone else.  As regular readers know, I am still connected with many former students that were the toughest of the bunch.

On this day, one young man completed my day.  I found out his teacher was absent.  To avoid any incidents int he classroom, Doc was placed in a Kindergarten classroom.  As I stood on the side of the room sharing with his teachers why I was visiting, I watched Doc walking from K-kid to K-kid pointing to their art, asking them how they created such great pictures, complimenting their work, and pushing them to make it better.  He did this with calm kindness, and the younger students were eating it up.  I was so proud. 

As he recognized me, his face lit up, he ran across the room with a big smile to shake my hand and say hello.  I told him how proud and happy he made me that day.  I explained how important it was for him to be serving as a mentor for younger students.  And then I told him what an amazing person he was and that the K-kids needed his help, so get back in work with them and make their day better.

I called his father to share the story.  I introduced myself, "Hi, Mr. Doc.  My name is Bryan Glover, and I am part of the Superintendent's Team in District 1.  I was working at our son's school today, and I need to share a story with you."  When I finished telling the story, dad let out a sigh of relief.  He said he didn't get phone calls like this about his son.  I asked dad to please give his son a hug and huge pat on the back for being an amazing human being.  I could hear the smile and feel the warmth of his pride through the phone.  

Our brains are tuned into the negative, the bad, the things that bring us down.  It's a survival mechanism to recognize and remember things that stress us so we can avoid that stress in the future.  I am always asking myself to find the happy moments to focus my attention and memory.  Those moments matter, and they are so often overwritten by the bad.  Sometimes, other people need you to help them find their happy moments.  Every time, it is great to share a moment of pride and joy, especially with a parent of a child who typically puts our brains memory systems into survival mode.

How can we try to be more mindful of these moments so they embed as memories over the tough moments that stress our days?

How can we see students that struggle to cope with life as students with value and skills to share?  As learners and contributors to our classrooms and lives?

How can we be sure to take more time to talk to parents about the moments when their child showed kindness, a proud moment, resilience in the face of a challenge?

Doc and his dad have brightened my week.  I have memories that give me a smile upon reflection that I am using during tougher moments in the day.  I like this feeling.  I want more of these lightening, brightening moments.