Nancy Taught Me That

 

Nancy taught me that Charles Shultz was a genius…that Snoopy and Charlie Brown and Linus and Lucy could and would teach you most of the lessons you need to learn in life.  Nancy taught me that.

Nancy taught me that balance can be found in a guided reading schedule even when you are juggling eight or nine groups of students…that little creativity, a little organization, and a lot of plastic tubs are all you need to set up the perfect reading rotation.  Nancy taught me that.

Nancy taught me that it’s ok to take time for yourself…that there’s nothing wrong with curling into a comfy chair with a good book and a full pot of tea…and it’s even ok if you stay in your pajamas all day…that time spent lost in a good book is not wasted.  Nancy taught me that.

Nancy taught me that the dirty ones need hugs more than anyone else…that the kids who smell funny and have greasy hair and dirt under their fingernails and yesterday’s lunch spilled on their shirt are the ones you should hold onto a little bit tighter…a little bit longer.  They are the ones who need the hugs most.  Nancy taught me that.

Nancy taught me that a glass of wine tastes much better when shared among friends…that venting on the deck is a thoroughly acceptable way to spend an afternoon…that the birds and the squirrels in the trees are pretty good at keeping secrets…that chips and salsa make a perfectly acceptable dinner.  Nancy taught me that.

Nancy taught me that it’s ok to take a few minutes to brush a little girl’s hair every morning…that some little girls aren’t lucky enough to have someone take the time to brush their hair and add a bow before giving them a quick hug and sending them off to school…that a secret stash of cute hair ties and a little pink brush hold the power to start each day off on a happy note.  Nancy taught me that.

Nancy taught me that we need to set boundaries…that we need to set limits so that the people around us know just how far they can push us before we snap…that students need to know our boundaries…that we must help some students learn how to set boundaries…that a box on the floor made out of Duct Tape does a nice job of defining our own space…that 2^nd street makes a very nice boundary.  Nancy taught me that.

Nancy taught me that you never give up on a student…that there’s always another intervention…a different strategy…an experimental method that might reach into a child and unlock the potential hidden deep down inside…that they just need you to try one more time.  Nancy taught me that.

Nancy taught me that it’s ok to laugh…that sometime a laugh is the only weapon you have against a situation with the potential to bring you the cliff and make you want to jump…that when you take a few seconds to laugh with a friend, a solution to life’s problems will magically present itself…that hearing a gut-busting laugh coming from the across the hall can (and will, if you let it) brighten your day and put you back on track.  Nancy taught me that.

Nancy taught me that you can’t make everyone like you…that no matter how hard you try, some people won’t understand you or your methods…that you can’t take it personally when people misunderstand what you say…that it’s not your fault when people make a snap judgment about you…that small-minded people are going to talk about you and say that you are something you are not…that when this happens, you smile and keep on going because Dr. Seuss was right …that “those that mind don't matter, and those that matter don't mind.”  Nancy taught me that.

Nancy taught me that everything is not as it seems…that those who appear tough as nails are often the ones that need a hug and a kind word more than anyone else…that we all need someone that will let us be weak and small…that life is often very different from what it seems…that success always outweighs the pain…that the good times always make up for the bad.  Nancy taught me that. 

  

For my dear friend Nancy Garratt…may she rest in peace.