I’m sitting at my daughter’s desk in New Orleans. She is on a work trip, and I’ve gotten her son Thomas to school. He’s in kindergarten. Our morning went so smoothly that I am questioning myself. I have rechecked her list, and we did everything. Nevertheless I’m worried.
Thomas has been struggling lately. The classroom environment overwhelms him, and he has meltdowns. My daughter is doing all the things. I am really proud of the way she is taking charge of the situation and working hard toward a solution. As an educator, though, I wish I could be a fly on the wall in his classroom to see the whole picture. As a grandparent, all I want in the world is for him to be happy.
At my daughter’s desk this morning, I read Kim Johnson’s SOL post about falling in love with ordinary things. Thanks, Kim, for the nudge to write a poem inspired by Georgia Heard’s February newsletter.
I’m sitting at my daughter’s work desk
falling in love with the winter slant
of sunlight
and the small pink framed photo of her
as a wild child, holding Pongo, the rat terrier.Her smile is wide and open,
blonde hair flustered by the wind.
Is there a stain of chocolate on her chin?Her wide smile,
that joie de vivre, is living
in her six-year old son today.Margaret Simon, draft
Reflections on the Teche 
Ah, Margaret, what a special poem about Thomas’ sweet mama. The joy of life, indeed, and I love the words “wild child” that you use to describe her> You know her well and this image that you showed us and described with love really beckons us to fall in love with that sweet wild child too!
Love the poem you wrote! Our grands have another day of remote learning. They were out all last week and now two days this week. I sure hope they can be back in school tomorrow.
Remote learning must be hard! I hope they can take breaks and play in the snow!
Winter slant of sunlight – priceless! Did you leave that beautiful poem on your daughter’s desk to find? I had a rat terrier named Sniffy who looked just like Pongo! I wish Thomas happier school times. He will find his way. He has two loving women to help him!
I love the picture and the poem. What a great way to let us know that your grandson can be a lot like his mom.
By the way, one of my favorite phrases I heard a kindergarten teacher use is, “We can do hard things.” This was after a student had said something was hard. The teacher acknowledged that it was, and added the “we can do hard things”. I also like using the phrase yet. “I can’t do it,” becomes, “I can’t do it YET” which feels different. I hope the rest of your time goes well!
I loved the lines: falling in love with the winter slantof sunlight.” What a vivid description for this poem.
Sounds like your daughter is on top of things with Thomas, which is fantastic. She’s had you as a role model for all things parenting and teaching. 🙂
Oh Margaret, this is such a wonderful reminder of the power of noticing and observing. The “joi do view” as you so wonderfully wrote is evident in both your daughter’s smile and in her son’s approach to life.
Margaret, that last line is so touching – – and I see a lot of you in her, too – those ordinary moments that are captured in snapshots, those milliseconds of a time capsule, just come rushing back with so many layers of memory sometimes that we catch our breath and go back like a bullet train through the years……..and remember.
I love “The winter slant of sunlight.” It is something we know so well here in the northwest. I often stand at my south-facing window to watch the sun on its winter track, low on the horizon, casting long shadows across my lawn even at noon. Enjoy every minute with Thomas!
…all I want in the world is for him to be happy. I love the way the photo of Thomas’s mom as a child echoes that wish for happiness. Thomas is lucky to have you and his mom on his team, doing all the things.