You Will Never Believe This!

So let me tell you about my Friday. My favorite parent volunteer asked me if a few parents could come in to speak to me right before I started class. I told her that would be fine and my radar did not even go off. I am way too anxious and self focused for that. I bring the kids in the room and sit down and she comes marching in with most of  the families from my class. I am flabbergasted but still clueless. Then she tells me to sit down because she has something to say. She makes this beautiful speech about me and naturally I start to lose it right in front of the kids. She hands me these orchids and card and I am speechless. They are spectacular and I read this card out loud and was filled with emotion. I was choking.  Inside was a gift card to a restaurant and I am thinking to myself that this was too much for them to spend on me. Okay, so she finished her speech and everyone is flashing their cameras at me  and I am so touched. Naturally I think we are done and I tell the parents how much I will miss them, the school, my partner, blah, blah and this parent tells me to sit down. She's not done. So I do what I am told. 

She hands me a small box and I can't believe there is more to open. I can barely breathe from all the emotions I am feeling but I do not want to make a total scene in front of my kids so I work at keeping it together. This is what was in the box. I was shocked out of my mind and overwhelmed.  Now I know we are done but she tells me no and to sit down for more.

I think we are done and she tells me no and the parents start laughing!

This is so over the top that I have no words.

Just so you understand, I work in a Title I school. I took time to live in the moment.  I looked around at my last group of parents and just tried to take it all in. The smiling faces of the children and the love and sacrifice of these parents will be burned in my memory forever.  I am blessed.