Unexpected Kindness

Unexpected kindness makes all the difference. Life Pie needs more grace than sugar.

I received a late-night email from one of Sophia’s teachers. The inevitable stomach-churning commenced when I saw the sender’s email address.

Oh, Lord. School. A teacher. What happened?

The teacher’s words…

“Good evening Mr. Griffin,

I was going to email you about this beautiful young lady. You have raised a great future leader of tomorrow. I enjoy her in my class. I told Sophia last time; she is a God sent young lady.

Thank you so much for trusting me to teach your child. I cannot ask for anything more. She is always at her best behavior and always willing to help me with things I need in class.”

I have chewed middle-school butt since the beginning of school. Everything has changed, and nothing has changed.

Behavior. Effort. Attitude.

We’ve had more eye rolling than I like and more drama than I imagined possible.

The transition to a completely different world coupled with a return to face-to-face instruction after a nearly two-year, pandemic-sustained hiatus has been anything but dull.

Many days, I wonder if we’re terrible parents. Are we wrong? Too controlling? Too demanding? Too forgiving? Too loose? How does a father know when he is right? Where is the line?

All the bravado and self-confidence in the universe will not answer those questions.

Does she hear anything we say? Is she who we think she is when she walks through the school door?

Oh, me.

Unexpected. Exceptionally kind.

Good for Sophia. Way to go, girl.

And thank you, Mrs. Charles, for putting my mind at ease. For the moment, anyway.

My return trip to self-doubt and worry doesn’t leave until tomorrow.