Dateline Boston — Last week I was having dinner with a friend at the new pizza joint, and two teenage girls came in. They were seated at the table next to us. One girl and I recognized each other, and we hugged. I hadn’t seen Olive in probably 10 years. She was a student of mine when I taught preschool. I see her mom all the time, so I know what’s going on with her. That’s why it felt so natural to say hi, as if time hadn’t passed.
A day later, I was walking with Husband, and someone called my name from behind us. I turned around and saw Emmy. She is another former student who is now in high school, with a big group of her friends. We said hi, and chatted about what we had just been doing (she had played pool, I had seen a movie). I see Emmy all the time in the neighborhood, and we’ve hung out, so that feels natural, too.
Tradition in the Making?
A day later, I made plans with Emmy’s sister Kathy, yet another former student, who will be starting high school in September. She and her best friend from preschool, Mona, arranged to meet me at Panera to shoot the breeze. Mona lives in another state now, and she comes to visit in the summer. Can you imagine a 14-year-old girl visiting from another state to make plans to have a meal with her preschool teacher? We recalled doing the same thing last year. Maybe it will become a tradition.
At Panera, we talked about dying one’s hair, getting ear piercings, and tattoos. I told the girls they were to come see me before ever setting foot inside a tattoo studio. I relayed the story of how another student of mine called me when he was a teenager and wanted to get his ears pierced. I went with him and his mom to a tattoo studio to get it done.
Husband and I were walking home one night and saw a former student of mine who lives across the street from us. She was with a boy. She called out “Hi!” and I responded with, “It’s a little late, isn’t it?” She piped back, “Hey, I’ll take care of your cats when you go away. Don’t forget!” I shouted to have a good time, and we went on our way.
I’ve had former students at my house to do art projects, we have gone to the movies, and I get hugs or a “hey!” on a regular basis as I see the kids grow up year after year. I feel truly blessed to have such special connections with my former students. Our preschool was, and is, a special place with a very strong sense of community. I look forward to making the same connections at the new school where I’ll be teaching in September. If you see me around town with a teenager, chances are, he or she once was my preschool student. See you at Panera!
Ms. Vaillancourt may be contacted at snobbyblog@gmail.com
