Dip some apples in honey.

There is a custom in honor of the Jewish New Year that begins tonight to dip apples in honey as part of the family meal. Dipping the apples in honey is symbolic for having a new sweet year. It made me think about you all who work with children. You can have your own “customs” that create daily reminders for a good new day or class. You can be as creative as you want in coming up with your own great ways to make the start of each class a pleasant experience.

Have a great day and a wonderful week-end.

Maryln

Is it a job or a calling?

A job is something that you do to earn money. It is work, and it can be work without passion. A calling is something else entirely even though it involves a job.

When I was a little girl I wanted to have 27 children. I told everyone I was going to have that many children, and they just would smile and look at me with amusement. When I grew into adulthood, I married young, had only two children, but I still wanted to help other children. I kept following my heart, and doors opened up for me to do what I did. It was my calling.

Many of you may have planned to work with children. Others had different dreams. Regardless of how you came into this profession, it is where you are now, and I don’t believe that is an accident. Every time you go to work, you have a chance to do more than just have a job. You have the opportunity to have it be your “calling,” your chance to make a difference.

Have a great day making that difference today and following that calling.

Maryln

Good things come in packages.

Today is my youngest granddaughter’s birthday. I remember vividly the day she came into the world. She was so tiny, so precious to me. It’s amazing how you can instantly fall in love with your children and grandchildren. You just take a peek, and then you are forever in love. And it all started with that “little package, that bundle of love.” Every child needs someone to love them. It’s so easy to love the child that always listens, that pays attention, that always does the right thing, and that smiles up at you and returns your love. Not all children are like that. “Their package” may be different. They may be strong-willed, defiant, inattentive, and disruptive. Those children need love too. They too need someone to believe in them. Look for the goodness in them, and if you look deep enough, you will find it. There are good things in all packages. In some, you just have to search deeper. The important thing is keep searching and to never give up.

Have an awesome day.

Maryln

The greatest inheritance of all.

My dad didn’t leave me money, but he left me a gift better than money. He left me the legacy of someone being positive that lived his life to the fullest no matter the circumstances. When he was a tiny tot in a small town in Hungary, he got really sick and nearly died. The doctors didn’t realize it at the time, but he had rheumatic fever. It left him with scar tissue all over his heart. He was often weak. His hands and feet would swell with fluid, and he often had a hard time breathing. Did that make him give up? No way! He followed his dreams. Along the way he moved to America, became a citizen of this fine land, and helped his entire family out, and anyone else who needed help. There were days he was so ill he could barely breathe. He knew his days were numbered, but he would still do the next right thing. He would climb up four flights of stairs to my tiny apartment to see me and to hold my baby daughter, his new granddaughter. He would smile, and say “It’s worth it to climb these stairs to hold her.” He lived his life fully all the way to the end. When he passed away, there were so many people that he had helped, they could not fit into the huge funeral home. Everyone wanted to say one last “good-bye.” He left me a great inheritance as I watched his faith, his positive attitude, his kindness and caring, and how he lived each moment to the fullest never giving up on his dreams.

That is the inheritance, the legacy you each get to leave to all of your students, and to your own family, a legacy of love.

Have a great day. You are a difference maker.

Maryln

Encouragement can be found in an “I Believe in You” box.

Children thrive on encouragement. Actually, the more they misbehave the less encouragement they hear, and the more negative statements. Here’s a neat idea for you. Have a small box in your classroom. Fill it up with encouraging quotations. At the start of each class day, have students reach into the “I believe in you” box, and pull out a message. They read it or you read it to them for younger students, and it starts their class time off with encouragement. Here are some sample statements you can use:

“Expect the best.” “You can do it.” “Today can be a great day.” “Believe in yourself.” “You have it in you to shine.” “Keep the faith.” “You can do anything you set your mind to do.”

Have fun and have a wonderful week. You are a difference maker.

Maryln