Pieces of Me

Even though I feel shattered now,

I am still grateful for the little things

that not only I love doing, 

but things that also made my father proud of me.

Teaching is one of those things.

As I tried to resume normal life today,

I took an hour to be with my little ones

and begin summer review for their education.

Being a former teacher, I enjoy teaching my children 

and watching them learn.

I know the importance of reducing the learning gap

over the summer so they can retain the skills they've learned

until next school year.

So, today we began our "summer school time."

Me being a teacher was one of the things that

made my dad proud of me over the years.

I didn't realize just how proud until I started

going through some things he had stashed away

and I found my very first paycheck stub I earned as a teacher

from back in 1994.

He kept it.

I couldn't believe it.

He kept that old piece of paper stating my earnings.

How did he even get ahold of it, I wonder?

When I found it, I smiled, and thought,

"Really, Dad?"

And I am sure he was smiling back at me

while saying, "Yes, really, Pumpkin."

xo