This Post Isn't About Tido.

I always know exactly what I want to write about until I'm sitting in front of the computer scr---AAGH DOG STOP LICKING MY FEET.

That's what I wanted to say.

Tido's being a terror because nobody else is home. 

He's awfully cute, though, especially when he's pretending not to have legs.

Anyway.

Life is pretty good right now.

I've got this hilarious, wonderful boyfriend.

My anxiety is much more controllable than it was a month ago (and my therapist gives me chocolate. WOOHOO). 

I love my job.

I didn't realize how much teaching small groups would allow time and energy for me to encourage students and see them grow. Last year I was lucky if I gave each kid a compliment in a week--this year I can give one kid multiple compliments within thirty minutes. 

How great is that???

I'll be completely honest, though. I miss my fifth graders. Certain things remind me of them all the time, like horror movie trailers and annoying songs from vine.

Which is why it was so very wonderful to see them a week ago.

THAT'S RIGHT.

I decided to take a professional day to observe another intervention teacher. Fortunately, I happened to work with the best intervention teacher in the county last year, and she wanted me to come watch her because she knew I'd bring cookies. That meant I'd be able to spend a day at my old school.

Of course, it was wonderful.

Word that I'd arrived quickly spread through the sixth grade. and throughout the morning my kids would pop their heads into the intervention room to wave at me. I stopped by the cafeteria during their lunch time in hopes saying hello, and was almost bowled over by a knot of eleven year olds piling on top of each other in Chinese-second-grader style.

My heart exploded into pink confetti and glitter sprinkles.

"MISS LOVE!!!"

"DID YOU COME BACK TO TEACH US?"

"WHY ARE YOU HERE?"

"I'M ALMOST AS TALL AS YOU NOW!"

"I WENT TO THE POOL THIS SUMMER."

"DID YOU COME BACK FROM CHINA?"

"YOUR HAIR IS SHORTER."

"I BET I'M BIG ENOUGH TO PICK YOU UP."

"_____ HAS A BOYFRIEND NOW."

"CAN I TELL YOU A SECRET?"

"HOW IS JOSH?"

"WHEN ARE YOU GETTING MARRIED?"

"WHEN WILL YOU COME VISIT AGAIN?"

"I'M GOING TO BE THE LAST ONE TO HUG MISS LOVE."

"NO YOU'RE NOT."

(Everything is in all caps because it's impossible to keep a normal voice level in the cafeteria.)

Another teacher got some really cute pictures of the reunion, but I'm afraid to post them because they have kids' faces in them. Just imagine a lot of big smiles.

At the end of the day, I stood out in the hallway as my kids were getting things out of their lockers. After a few minutes, I realized that the kids who were talking to me the most were....the baddies. 

 The kids who'd given me the most headaches. 

The kids who made me lose sleep.

The kids who made me wonder if I'd make it through the year.

The kids I'd loved the hardest.

I impacted them the most, and here I was with the opportunity to show them that even though I left, I still cared about them.

Gosh, teaching is great sometimes.