In life, we can either let our experiences make us bitter, or we can channel that feeling towards being a good example in order to improve things.



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Monday, June 12, 2006

kids and time

The kids in the nursery class I assisted in, know three languages: persian, hebrew and english. Whenever these two little boys there talk in persian, I feel so distant from them because I don't know what they're saying. And so I tell them to tell me in english. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't.

School's almost over for them. I'm going to miss them all. I would love to see what they'll look like when they're older.

Reminds me of watching some friends who are younger than me, grow up. My brother and I, when we were kids, were friends with some kids who use to live next door. At the time, they were one boy and two girls. And later came their other siblings. Since they are all younger than us, I was always amazed at how much they have grown. Then they moved a few blocks away and we slowly lost touch with them.

One day, this young man comes to the door wearing a suit and hat and he askes for my brother. I'm wondering who he is. Then it donned on me and I said, Z____? And he said 'Yea.'

There were a lot of kids on the block that have moved away since then. Glad we have pics from back then.

15 comments:

socialworker/frustrated mom said...

It is sad when you made connections and you have to say goodbye.

kasamba said...

The passage of time can be so shocking!
I babysat the cutest three year old boy ever... he now has six kids but he'll always be my little sweetie.

Those kids are yours forever.

FrumGirl said...

I agree with you about pictures... to me they capture a time in history which is priceless!

rabbi neil fleischmann said...

deep stuff, this reminded me of how last year at my elementary school graduation, no-one recognized me. there were no prizes, but if there were i would have won the one for most changed in appearance. there were plenty of people who so many years later actually looked the same. and i wish i could say that i didn't resent that.

there's a lot to say on this subject. growing up there were kids that i always thought of as kiddush kids. and then they outgrew that and it was jarring.

smb said...

Swfm, it is, especially when those kids in that class are so cute and sweet.

Kasamba, wow, now that's something!

FG, deffinately.

RNF, that must have been tough to be the most changed.

ps, I would like to see my elementary school classmates again too.

Pragmatician said...

Quite interesting to have pupils like that.
How's their english? Is very accentuated?

smb said...

It is. It's very interesting to hear.

socialworker/frustrated mom said...

I am sure I could imagine how hard it is to leave them.

A Frum Idealist said...

life is a continuing cycle. think of the friends that you had in grade school, that you couldn't imagine to be apart from. how many of them do you still talk to?
how about high school?
dor holeich, v'dor ba.

pictures and fond memories are the only ways to internalize them.

smb said...

So true.

Anonymous said...

the passage of time...yeah, my friend was just looking at pics of me and she was freaking out at how much BETTER I looked. I was like, yeah, that was in high school...

deep post, sorry for the irreverent comment!

smb said...

it's fine :)

chaverah said...

you make me feel i should take more pictures of my kids. otherewise some moments will be lost forever!

smb said...

You still have the chance :)

CJ Srullowitz said...

It's cool because in fifteen years, they'll be adults, but you'll still be you--the hot teacher!