Defeat

Do you ever just feel defeated?

Like you put every part of your soul into something and then something happens and it feels like you've been run over by a truck?

Today, was one of those days for me. The following will explain why:


I have a student that I've been working with since the beginning of the year. He's a really good kid, but he moves around alot and that has caused him to fall a little behind academically and he struggles with his behavior.

Both his classroom teacher and myself agree that while he still has things he can work on (who doesn't) that he has made trememdous progress this year. Well, a couple of weeks ago my friend (the student) tells me that he is moving again. He came into my room yesterday looking a little down and when I asked him what was bothering him to told me that he was sad and didn't want to leave his friends. I tried to make him feel better by telling him that he wasn't moving too far away and that he was always welcome to stop by and visit.

There is also another student who just moved here this year. I suggested that maybe that student could give the first student some advice on leaving friends and making new ones.

The advice was this: "You should get all of your friends together and give them something to remember you by."

I thought this was a great idea!

The student that is moving says he doesn't have anything to give anybody so I tell him that he could also write them a note or draw them a picture instead. He then tells me he doesn't have any paper. So I suggest he ask his teacher if she has any scrap paper that he can have.

Today I am greeted by my little guy with these words. "Oh yeah, my Mom says I can't come see you and I can't give away my toys." and "Mrs. X says that her paper is for work only and I can't have any of it."

WHAT?!!!

I was MORTIFIED!
I obviously didn't tell him to give his toys away, but his mom doesn't know that and is now upset with me. I had to write her a letter explaining that I was only trying to cheer him up and that I would never tell a student to do such a thing. I'm not sure what is going on with his teacher, I honestly didn't think it would be a problem or I wouldn't have even thought of it. I doubt that she is upset with me, I just need to explain to her what my thought process was.

I am not trying to blame anyone here. I know that kids are kids and they don't always give accurate information, but I couldn't help but feel like I had done something wrong. I was even all excited because I was going to surprise his reading group with a going away party on Thursday. Now, I don't even want to. What I want to do is take a long bath and go to sleep.

Wake me up in May.