The Greatest Gift - Your Child(ren)

I would just like to take a moment of your time to Thank You for sharing your children with us each and every day.  I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to know that I get to get up and go to a job that I love every day and work with children. Yes, there are some days that have a speed bump or two, but there are many more positives that outweigh the rest. 

I often think that as a Superintendent it is often easy to get caught up in the politics of the job and sometime my focus gets directed to things that matter, but are not the biggest priorities in my life.  So I often try to find things outside of school that keep me focused on  the things that really matter in my life: my faith, my family and my love for education.  One of my latest readings is a blog called "Her View From Home".  One of the recent articles talked about what really matters to children.  One of the quotes that stuck with me is "Feeling secure in a family will have more of a long term effect on the well-being of a person than any of the minor stuff so much of our time and effort is spent on. We say our value is family, but our actions show something completely different. "

This really resonated with me as we move into the holiday season.  It isn't so much what we gift each other, but it is the time that we spend with each other that we will remember as we grow older.  As you look for the "perfect" gift this year, I want you to encourage you to consider how to make the time you spend with your families and friends matter.  Give that hug before you say goodbye.  Tell them "I love you" before you tuck them in at night. Spend 5 min. reading a book and sharing a cup of cocoa.  Send that card to a person that you haven't talked to in a long time and let them know you are thinking of them.  Building memories is what really matters! 

That is why I send you a heartfelt "Thank You".  Your children build my memories.  Their hugs, smiles and laughter brighten my days.  Their struggles  give me opportunities to grow and be a better educator.  They are why I became a educator!  Thank you for sharing  your greatest gift - Your child!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Wendy Moore