Each new school year has its own rhythm and I do declare I think we have found it! The rain arrived this week and with the wondrous droplets pitter-pattering all around, there also landed a sort of settled feeling like “Okay, this is what we do here and this is who we do it with!” This is not to say all is easy and all children are happy all the time- we still see some children feeling sad about saying goodbye to parents. And why shouldn’t they be? They love them and it is hard to say goodbye to people you love. Just because we grown-ups think they should be over the sad goodbyes by now, why really should they be, given their deep love?

This week I have seen hands reaching out to pull one another up a ditch embankment; I have witnessed a child graciously offering a toy even though he just got it; I have seen water being passed around the table with greater ease and understanding; I have seen a child cradling another child in her arms when upset; I have heard belly laughs and giggles. These precious moments reveal relationships developing as we begin to care about one another. This place feels good, really, really good!

With affection,

Emily