If it ever happens again, it won't get any easier.
We had a student pass away.
A third grader.
And it was devastating.
It was unexpected.
I do realize I teach 5-8.
However, this student's older brother and 2 of his cousins are in my classes. And they were all really close.
The four of them would pull shenanigans.
This third grader was just so sweet, funny, and ornery.
He even brought me a cupcake on his birthday.
I was actually looking forward to having him as a student.
Honestly. I don't do well with death.
Especially when I have less than five minutes to get over the shock so that I can teach.
It's hard.
You have to keep going with business as usual.
And its hard.
Especially when your students are crying.
You feel so helpless.
I went to a visitation today.
I get to where the mom is, she sees me and starts to cry a little harder, "Miss D. He thought you were the greatest." And gave me this huge hug.
That is the sentence that broke me.
This third grader who heard stories from his older brother and cousins... and who was excited he was going to have me... and made it known to his mom that he thought I was the greatest... Even now, I am crying. He was a sweet little stinker.
At school I act like everything is fine. I don't want the administration to worry about the new teacher. A teacher walked in on me crying the first day we found out. And that was weird.
The nice thing about this school is how close knit it is. It was amazing to see how people genuinely came together.
They released balloons for him.
It was beautifully heartbreaking.
A lot of things this week is going to haunt me.
Teaching is hard because the kids work their way into your heart.
They become part of you.
And it hurts so deeply when your kids feel pain.
It hurts so deeply to lose one, even if he wasn't yours.
My heart and prayers go out to the parents and family and actual teacher of this student. May God grant them peace and comfort.