What I've Learned About LOVE In Kindergarten

Yesterday was Valentine's Day. When 21 voices chorused, "Happy Valentine's Day, Mrs. Hugo," I realized that would be the last time I'd be receiving so-ooo much love on Valentine's Day. And now I know what I'll miss most about teaching kindergarten.  It's the love.

It's the hugs in the mornings. It's the joyful way I'm greeted as if I'm a long- lost friend after lunch.  It's the "I love you's" after someone really enjoyed a game, an art project, or a story that I told.

It's the flowers, rainbows and Batman drawn and colored on all kinds of paper and proudly offered to me.  It's the first time a child remembers how to spell the most important word of them all--love.

It's first and second graders, too, stopping by to say "Hi!"  And older former students who deliver a big box of candy on Valentine's Day, send an email to thank me for teaching them the Backwards ABC Song, or never forget my birthday and always bring me my favorite dark chocolate.

It's college students studying elementary education because they loved being in my kindergarten who return to volunteer.  It's parent volunteers and grandparent volunteers who continue to help out even though their own children have moved on to the upper grades.

It's all this love and much more than I can put into words. It's what I'll miss most about kindergarten.  It's the love.

I've had my students make lovebug ladybug bags forever.