That made it especially hard when I found out I was going to need to miss a good chunk of the end of the year. I was so crushed to think about leaving my kids, right at the end, after we'd come so far together. I was so sad to think about turning them over to someone else, and what that would look like. I am so incredibly thankful that this special lady stepped in for me. Mrs. Dresow. What can I really even say about her? Those that know her, know exactly what I mean when I say how thankful I am for her and that she agreed to take over for me. She is the type of teacher that we all hope to be someday. She is an incredible instructor but an even better human. She makes lessons fun, engaging and she just knows how to teach. She also knows how to love and understand kids, yet hold them to high expectations. She gets them as a whole child. She establishes a wonderful climate in a classroom. I like to think that we really had that going this year as well, which is why it was so important to me that someone be able to step in and take over and keep that going for us. The end of the school year can get a little crazy, so to know that it would continue to go smoothly was so important. Mrs. Dresow is respected and loved by so many, and just one of those extra special people. For those that don't know, she taught in our school district for many years, and retired just a few years ago. She is likely a favorite teacher of most that have had the privilege to have had her. She is one of those teachers that people remember forever. I know this because my nephew had her as a fifth grade teacher. He's now nearly 23, and I know she is one of his favorites. She really should've spent her spring enjoying her grandchildren, being outside, etc. But she selflessly chose to step in for me. I knew then that my kids were going to be in the best hands. There is nobody else that I would've loved more to take my place, unless my own mom would've wanted to do it, but she was busy helping take care of me! 😉
I know a big part of the reason that she agreed to step in was because she too knew what a great group of kids she was getting to work with. So to any parents of my fifth graders that may be reading this, thank you for raising such incredible kids, with the biggest hearts.
I could go on and on about how wonderful she was. She was constantly checking in with me about how I was feeling and recovering, keeping me up to speed with what was going on at school, and helping me to stay involved as much as I could. This meant so much. There were also the little things. Right after my mastectomy, these flowers were delivered to me! They were the most special flowers ever. ;) They are perfect for me because they are bright, cheerful, and I can't kill them lol! She had the kids make them, and in fact I still have them sitting out in my house.
Then, when I came back after being out for 4 weeks recovering after my mastectomy, I walked in and saw this. I have a huge white wall in my room. She had it completely covered with butterflies that the kids had made for me, with writing on them using wonderful figurative and descriptive language! ;) They looked beautiful and the kids were so excited for me to see it. They also had a shirt for me, which I wear proudly..and is super soft lol! For those of you that know me well, you know I'm kind of a t-shirt diva, and very picky about the material! ;)
Check out some of these! These kids. <3 I actually had to stop reading them when I walked in, and wait until after school...all the tears.
So you can see how incredible lucky and thankful I am to have had this wonderful lady step in for me. Joan, I can never thank you and your family enough for giving your time to my kids and to me this spring. You took such a huge worry off of me, knowing my kids were in the best hands. Like I said, I am so lucky to be able to go to "work" where I do. These people are why. This is the elementary and middle school staff in my school district. I've worked in both buildings, with the best people. They all wore their pink for me the day of my mastectomy. They have looked out for my own children and kept a special eye on them for me through this difficult spring. They've sent cards, gift cards, brought meals, given me hugs..I could go on and on. I know how lucky I am. I can never thank you all enough for being such an important part of this whole cancer journey. From the very bottom of my heart. thank you. I wouldn't be getting through this without you.
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