It is a beautiful late August day here on northern Lake George. Once again I marvel at and am humbled by the inspiring surroundings I wake up to each day. I am so grateful to live in this home that my late husband, Brad, and I worked at long and hard to build. Feeling blessed with a fresh cup of coffee in hand I turn on my computer eager to interact with my friends and family and there it is - an email with the subject line, 'Coming Home'. My daughter, Lisa, is coming home from an inspiring journey to India, Nepal, Borneo, Indonesia, and Thailand. Tears of joy blur my vision as I read her message. I acknowledge the shedding of joyful tears as a commonality amongst all mothers when they learn that a child is coming home. I remember working hard to block tears of sadness as we hugged goodbye on a subway train in NYC on March 3 of this year. I remember feeling so proud of her as she stepped quickly onto the platform before the subway doors closed. Through smudged windows I watched her disappear into the crowd as I wondered if I would ever see her again, if she would ever come home. I still wonder, as she has many miles to go before she sets foot on American soil.
My television is tuned to the funeral coverage honoring the late Senator Ted Kennedy. Death is construed by many as going home. Through the eyes of a widow I am able to identify with the grieving Vicky Kennedy is experiencing. I wonder if she knows about this line from the poem
Comes the Dawn - "and with every good bye we learn." It is a thought that has helped me live through so many good byes in my life. I am curious about Vicky's thoughts as she embraces this change in her life - as she says goodbye to her Teddy - as he goes home - to the home each of us will journey to some day. I am intrigued by learning more about the similarities between widows and widowers as I embrace each new day as a widow. So many things we learn simply by living day to day in the school of life.
Teddy Kennedy truly championed the American spirit. Having lived through the era of John, Bobby, and Teddy Kennedy I remember the home and school of my youth. I think about how I was inspired by my family and my teachers to be proud to be an American. I am proud to be an American. America is a land of opportunity and I believe that with education, will power, persistence, and resilience we Americans can truly embrace change. We can do so much to make this world, our home on this planet, a better place. As I turn off my television I vow to continue to work at improving our education system. What connections and conversations do we Americans need to have that will create change and improve our schools?
Thinking about school brings me to thinking about the responsibilities of parents and educators. What an incredible challenge it is to take on either of these roles! The relationship between home and school is so vital to improving our society. School is a home away from home. At this time of year in America we transition from summer break to a new school year. It is a time when parents say goodbye as they leave their children at a new home in a college dorm. It is a time when parents say goodbye as their children step through the doorway into a new classroom or climb onto a bus that takes them to school. It is a time when educators welcome students to their classroom community. The beginning of each school year is a time filled with hope and renewal for parents, children, and educators. What a glorious time of year!
Are you a parent saying good bye and sending your child off to a new home? Are you feeling the joy and sadness of this occasion? As a parent I find solace in this passage 'on children' from Kahlil Gibran's book,
The Prophet, - "Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you yet they belong not to you ... for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow... For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday... You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth." With thoughts invoked by these words I wonder about similarities amongst parents around the globe?
Are you an educator wondering if you will be able to reach each of your students as you embark upon a new school year? As an educator intent on improving education I find these words from the passage 'on teaching' in Kahlil Gibran's book,
The Prophet, to be thought provoking -
"No man can reveal to you aught but that which already lies half asleep in the dawning of your knowledge... If he is indeed wise he does not bid you enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind." With these words I ponder what similarities do educators around the globe share and how might conversing about these commonalities lead us to a better understanding of teaching and learning?
Is it possible to address unrest and turmoil on this planet by first recognizing similarities amongst all people so that we can understand and respect our differences? Coming home or going home? I look forward to learning from my daughter what commonalities she found amongst the people she met on her journey. What similarities did she find in the diverse cultures she visited? What connections were made, what conversations transpired, what alliances were created?
If you have read this far, I thank you for your time and attention. If you choose to comment on this blog we will discover similarities. It will open communication between us and others with the intent of creating new alliances that will enable a deeper understanding of humankind.
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