You is kind. You is Smart. You is Important.

When I was in 4th grade I had a very traumatic (for me) experience. I was a very shy, quiet, good child. I tried to always do what was expected of me. I hated to make a scene and I NEVER wanted to get into trouble. Truth of the matter is, I still hate causing a scene, I'm still quiet and shy, and alway trying to do what is expected of me. I guess I will always be working on some of those things.

Anyway, I digress.....In forth grade I had a teacher named Ms. Sweeney. One day she called me to the back of the classroom. I followed her scared to death, having no idea what this was going to be about. I quickly tried to think if I had done anything wrong. Had I cheated on something? NO. Had I made someone mad at me? NO. Had I talked when I was supposed to be listening? NO. In Ms. Sweeney’s hands was a stack of my school work. I still had no idea what this was about. I was shaking in my shoes. Ms. Sweeney proceeded to show me my work and tell me that my handwriting was terrible and if it did not improve she was going to send me to the priciple’s office. I was mortified. It was all I could do to hold back the tears until she couldn’t see me anymore and then the levy broke. Tears and lots of them fell. Being sent to the principles office was one of the worst things that could happen to me. I was a good kid and only “bad” kids got sent to the office to see the principle. I couldn’t believe that I was being lumped into the same category as those “other” kids.  Those are the thoughts of a very innocent 9 year old.

After that horrific moment I remember spending countless hours (or so it seemed) practicing my writing each evening in my Dad’s big brown chair. I tried so hard to get my writing to improve. It must have because Ms. Sweeney  never sent me to the principle’s office BUT she also never told me that I had improved. The strange thing about this particular story is that it affected how I felt about my handwriting forever, even to this day I worry that my handwriting is not as good as it should be. When I was in Junior High and High School I would cover my handwriting as I wrote because I didn’t want anyone to see what my handwriting looked like. I would write and rewrite my papers over and over in hopes that I would have pleasing handwriting. Thank heaven for liquid paper and erasable ink pens! Remember erasermates? Do they still sell those?

I tell this story for many reasons. One being that whatever we tell our children they will remember. I am thankful that this is the worst thing that I remember being told that was bad about me. What if I had been told I was dumb or ugly or a pain or not good enough? I get teary eyed just thinking about it.  Thankfully I had parents who told me wonderful things about me. 

One of my favorite parts of the book The Help is when Abilene is telling little Mae Mobley.....”you is kind, you is smart, you is important”. It gets me every time. We all need to tell our children these things. Everyday.  Let those thoughts be what fills their little heads as they grow. Let them know how wonderful and important they ARE.

The funny ending to this story about me and my terrible horrible no good rotten handwriting is now written on the impression plates that hang on many walls through the world. :)   Yay!!!!!! Maybe Ms. Sweeney scared me into having really good handwriting OR maybe my handwriting was never really bad to begin with!!! I’m going with that one. :P