AESS Won't Be the Same Without Him



My husband is retiring.  For 35 years he has been one of the most dedicated, effective, caring teachers a student could have.  He has been a role model as a teacher, an athlete, a coach but most importantly, as a man.  The boys and girls who have been lucky enough to pass through his classroom have been treated to being taught by a true gentleman.  I know that he has been a fantastic teacher but as a mom, a grandmother and a wife, I think that his gentle, caring nature towards everyone he meets is as important as his dedication to his career.   He cared so much about his students and went out of his way to connect with those who sought his advice and company and often became that one adult at school that so many kids need to stay engaged.

For anyone involved in public education these days you know how hard it is to get coaches, never mind good coaches.  The student athletes at Agassiz Secondary were fortunate to have one of the best in their midst.  For 35 years straight Bob has coached. His passion for basketball was second only to his passion for teaching.  There were years he mentioned taking a year off, having a break, but when no coach could be found he stepped up because he couldn't face the team not having a coach.  He is best known for coaching basketball and for winning a provincial championship along the way.  Along the way he also coached volleyball, track and field, golf, soccer and fastball.  We are very proud that each of our children went on to play university level sports, along with many other AESS athletes.

 

I know for him that developing a child's character, in the classroom and on the court, has been as important to him as their mastering algebra or basketball.  I know that he has spent 35 years seeing the best in the students he taught and coached.  I have lived with him for all of these years and I have had the pleasure of teaching and coaching with him as well and I know that any conversation that hinted of negativity was responded to with positivity.  He intentionally sought the best in his students and athletes and because of this saw the best in them.  In turn those students and athletes gave their best as well.

Our daughter wrote a blog about her dad a couple of months ago and our son a couple of years ago.  Their words say more than mine ever could:

"My dad is about the most modest person that you would ever meet - modest about everything. He does not like to be fussed over, he does not like to be recognized, he does not like to be honoured. He has been teaching at the same high school since 1977, as a math teacher, and in all of his years at that school you will not have met a person who has been more giving of himself in so many ways. Yes, you will find a handful of AMAZING teachers, who have impacted their students lives in more ways than they would know. But there is just something special about my Dad; as a teacher, as a coach, as a human being.
You will find him in his classroom well before the bell, helping kids prepare for exams, or catching up on missed work. You will find him in his classroom at lunchtime, helping kids prepare for exams, or catching up on missed work, or trying to understand a concept they just can not grasp. You will find him in his classroom after school, doing what? Helping kids prepare for exams, or catching up - I think you understand.
You will find my Dad helping students who have graduated and are taking college math courses to further their careers. You will find my Dad on the phone, at our house, in the evening, talking his students through problems. You will find the neighbours, who are his students, sitting at our kitchen table getting help with their homework.
I am afraid that I have made it sound like all he does is help students with math- it may seem like that to many people - but on the odd occasion that a student will stop by his classroom (or his house) for help with Math, he won't be there. Where will he be? In the gym.
He will be in the gym coaching the Senior Boys, or the Senior Girls, or the Junior girls, or the Junior boys, so the trend continues. He will be running practices, he will be scrimmaging when his team is short players, he will be there before school, or after school, on days when he is not practicing. He will be there scrimmaging with kids that he hopes will join the team, because the team would benefit, and they, as people would benefit. He will be there watching the teams that he does not coach, so that he can talk to them about it the next day at school."

"Growing up, he was that perfect combination of parent and big brother, a playmate when I needed one, and yet an authority figure when he needed to be. Basketball, softball, golf, tennis, you name it he would play it with us (and beat us at it, a trend that faded far too late in life). The coaching gene had apparently been passed to him, as well, and all of us grew up in the Agassiz High gym, learning to dribble a basketball soon after we learned to walk. Once we began to play organized sports, he coached us if he could, if we wanted him to, and to this day he remains the best coach I ever had. Other coaches screamed and yelled and punished their players for mistakes, forced them to memorize plays, sucked the fun out of the game; he made us want to play, let us have fun while giving us the tools to be successful at the same time, and almost never raised his voice; and of course, when you never yell, it makes the times you do far more effective, as anyone who has been on the receiving end of his anger will attest to.
His coaching style and his parenting style are very similar, and I guess in a way that makes sense, they are different degrees of the same role; sports coach versus life coach. Patient, fun, allowing you room to make mistakes, and there to help you through them when you do; for as many times as I’m sure I disappointed him while growing up, I can not think of a single time where he disappointed me. You know, I don’t think there are very many people in this world who can say that about their parents; until I wrote that, I had never really thought about it, which I’m pretty sure makes it true. "

I think we could go one step further and say that his teaching style was the same as his coaching style and his parenting style.  All of them based in integrity, honesty, dedication and real caring.

Geoff Johnson wrote an article in last week's Vancouver Sun about retiring teachers, 'Teachers help 'the kids' write book of their lives'  and I think he was writing about my husband.  (google: Geoff Johnson, Vancouver Sun, May 29, 2013).

I know he'll miss his colleagues.  I know he won't miss staff meetings or report cards.  I know he'll miss the routine.  I know he won't miss the hours and hours of work done at home.  Most of all, I know he'll miss the kids.

My husband, a rare breed, knew he wanted to be a math teacher (or quarterback for the BC Lions) since he was in grade 2.  He spent his life preparing for it.  He left his home town (and his girlfriend!) and headed off to U Vic in pursuit of his dreams.  His determination never wavered (except for once) and when the phone call came he was ready.  He's been a "teacher" his whole life.  He just didn't get paid for it until 1978.  Once he landed his first job he spent significant time trying to talk me into following his footsteps.  Four children later I took on the challenge.  His constant support and encouragement paid off when I became a teacher in 1988.  It's not a dream I ever had for myself and for me, this is one of the most important characteristics of a teacher; he could see something in me that I couldn't see in myself and he helped me to see it, believe it and achieve it.  The role of 'teacher' is part of who he is and, as our kids mentioned in their blogs, it is reflected in the father he is, the husband he is, the grampa he is and most importantly, in the man he is.

We have many exciting plans for our retirement years and can't wait for them to begin but it's still hard knowing that the teaching profession is losing one of its finest next week. What's good to know is that for 35 years in his classroom at Agassiz Secondary School, in the gymnasium at Agassiz Secondary School and in the community at large, his legacy will live on.  He has touched the lives of hundreds of students and colleagues in a way that will not be forgotten.

Some people spend their lives not knowing what their gifts and strengths are.  Some people spend their lives looking for a job/career/vocation that gives back as much to them as they give to it.  Some people are born knowing.  It's a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together and for the last 35 years, it's definitely been a beautiful thing.  Robert John Meehan wrote the following words:

But they could have been written by Bob Watson.

Congratulations on an amazing career Bob!
 



The road ahead. . .

Now that my husband has submitted his resignation letter and as we prepare to sell our home the travel bug is calling my name and he/she is calling really LOUDLY!

I was an armed forces child so I have travelled some.  We lived in Europe when I was very young and while there are terrific pictures I don't recall much of our time there.  I moved schools a few times and learned to make friends as I was often "the new kid".   Our 'vacations' at home always consisted of driving as far into the woods as the road would go, as long as there was a lake there, unpacking and camping until we ran out of food or out of holiday time.  I married young and had children young and those very busy years seemed to fly by without much thought to vacationing, never mind travelling.

I have vacationed in some beautiful places, most recently in Costa Rica but I have never "travelled".  Travelling to me means many maps with circles and notes on them, hours spent dreaming and planning (although the real planning generally falls to my husband) and discussions about where to go and when to make the most out of our journey.  It means strapping on a backpack, learning to use facilities that don't necessarily "flush" and eating food that I'm not quite sure what it is.  There must be a sense of adventure around it and of course, some challenges to overcome.  My heart must speed up a few times at the beauty of people and places I have never experienced.  The whole world is out there, including our own province and country and I can't wait to get started!

This little travel bug that sits on my shoulder calling my name has been further encouraged by some readings that I have been doing.  The first, a book called Sihpromatum by Savannah Grace really taught me a thing or two about travel.  If you have the pleasure of reading this book, keep in mind that Savannah's experiences are NOT the ones I am looking for.  I'm not 14 and I'm not THAT adventurous.  However, I do love how her family's travels shaped this young girl and her relationship with her family and changed the way she viewed both herself and the world.  I think that as I get older I wonder more about the world I have never seen and the person I will become after getting a chance to see the way other people live.

The other article that I read was called, Date a Boy Who Travels. I loved this article.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lena-desmond/date-a-boy-who-travels_b_3293815.html
I was most astounded by the feedback on this article..  Many, many volatile women (and men) responded with comments such as, Instead of dating a boy that travels, how about just being a girl that travels?  Now, I've already admitted that I haven't travelled much but I have travelled enough (and alone a couple of times) to know that the journey is ALWAYS better when you have someone to share it with.  I'm not saying  you have to run out and find a boyfriend (wouldn't THAT get me in trouble?) but I am really looking forward to making more memories with my husband.  I'm going to love it that we can look back on our adventures, our challenges, our favourite places and people and the parts of the journey that weren't so great and talk about them with each other.  I like it that when I look down over the rolling hills of the Cotswolds on my bike that he will be there beside me looking down on the same hills.

I like it that when I'm sick or sore and tired or longing for home that he will be there to re-infuse me and remind me about what our adventure is all about.  I like it that when we visit our old friend in Switzerland that they will have childhood memories to share with me as we see her part of the world through her eyes.

I like it that there will be give and take on this journey, as there has been throughout our whole life.  I like it that he has already travelled to some of the places we plan on seeing and that he will have memories to share with me about those places but that we will also be seeing many things together for the first time.  I like it that we will travel to the home of his grandparents in England, a time and place I have heard so many stories about.  I like it that he's interested in the history and I'm interested in the people (and food!)  I like it that the things we want to see and do are different and that we will both experience things we wouldn't have if we weren't with each other.

 

Our course travelling for us will also involve many, many conversations with those who have gone before us.  Our kids have travelled extensively and have already been to places on our bucket list.  While they don't want us to go for long they are excited that they may be able to visit us at one or more of our stops along the way.  My niece is an expert traveller (again, not sure I want to travel the way she does) but her experiences will benefit us as well.  Then we have the ultimate traveller, my sister-in-law and her husband.  They are seasoned "travellers" and already taught me a thing or two about which clothes to bring, which medications to have on hand and how to pack efficiently for a longer journey on less travelled roads.  Facebook has been a fantastic tool for keeping in touch with friends who have settled in other countries and who are more than willing to help us find suitable lodgings and point us to the places and experiences that only the locals would know.

As I look out the window on the mountains that surround me I know the time is coming soon where this place that has been our home for 35 years will no longer be home.  It makes me more aware and more appreciative, knowing our time here is coming to an end.  I'm okay with that.  I'm ready for some adventure and I'm ready to see the world.  I also know when our travels end that I will be happy to settle into a home that will be our home for the rest of our days.  Not sure yet where that will be but that's another adventure for another day.



Blue days. . .

Every once in a while, for no apparent reason, the blues descend upon me.  That's what's happening today.  For no apparent reason. 

I had a restless night.  I don't remember my dreams from last night but I remember there were many and that I had to wake myself up to stop the feeling of urgency bordering on panic.  Those kinds of dreams always leave me with a bit of a dull headache and that's not a nice way to start the day.

As I sat down to read today's paper I heard birds chirping, lots of them and like my dreams, there was a sense of urgency to them.  I got up to look out the window and saw a bunch of robins chasing off a very large raven.  Last week I took some terrific pictures of three baby robins that were in  a nest sitting on the drainage pipe under the eaves so when I saw them chasing I knew they were protecting their babies.  I looked around for something to throw at the raven if it came near again and in the time it took me to do that the raven had knocked the nest off the drainage pipe and was flying away with one of the chicks in it's beak, with three or four robins giving chase.  I felt sick.

I wondered why mother nature had to be so cruel.  My headache got worse.

One of the pleasures of being retired is being able to have a leisurely start to my day.  I often get up and putter around the house tidying etc and then have a hot drink while I read the paper.  I love reading the morning paper, it feels like a luxury.  I can skim the negative headlines and settle into the stories that really interest me.  Today's paper seems to be full of horrible stories.  Now, to be perfectly honest, most days there are lots of those stories and I am able to just skim the headline and breeze on by them.  Today though they bothered me, even the headlines.  It just seems like that kind of day.

I have no plans for today other than to vote, clean under the sink and organize an upstairs room.  Today is a day I am wishing I had to go to work.  I am wishing for the noisy chatter of the kids and the million and one things that always needed attention.  Today I am not enjoying the quiet that I have learned to love.  Today is a good day to remember that the sunshine is always brighter after a few grey days.

The clouds are breaking a little so perhaps it's time to get on my bike so I can turn my attention to my sore butt and burning legs.  A little distraction is what I need.



Motherhood

 

I've been a mother for almost four decades now!  Four decades!  For all of you new moms out there I want you to know that this role you have taken on is the role of a lifetime.  It's the roller coaster ride you paid big money for, stood in line for and then as you got closer to the front of the line you wondered if you really wanted to get on..  And. . . as you all know, it's not the up on the roller coaster that causes that lurch in our stomachs, it's the downs.  No matter how good you are at this mom thing there will be downs, they are inevitable.  But this is where we lose the roller coast analogy for the ups of motherhood are so much more exhilarating, so much higher, in fact, they are the best part of the ride.

I am Jason's mom, and Christine's, and Carrie's, and Kelly's mom.  I am a proud mom.  I know along the way that I have made mistakes but I'm okay with that.  There's no manual for motherhood and anyone who knows me knows that I've never read a manual in my life anyways.  I'm a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of person and like it or not, this is how I've 'mothered'. 

I became a mom for the first time when I was 18.  What does any 18 year old know?  Not that much in the scheme of things.  So when my kids complain about things I don't remember and things I didn't do right I tell them that considering my age and my lack of experience they're lucky they're even around to complain.  I wasn't a worrier.  There was no internet so I couldn't consult Dr. Google on any of the issues that came up.  Not that I would have recognized an "issue" if one would have arisen.  I had no immediate family around and these weren't the days of mommy groups.  For the most part I did what I liked.  I picked my babies up when they cried, I spent all day playing with them and being amazed by how perfect they were.  I did things that nowadays would be frowned on but again, I wouldn't have likely cared what the 'experts' were saying anyways even if I would have known.  And as luck would have it, it all worked out for the best.  My kids are terrific!

When I think back on the early days of motherhood I think of the quiet times and in spite of having four kids there were many quiet times.  I can remember moments of snuggling a wee one in my arms and just smelling that wonderful baby smell.  I can feel the heat of my toddlers' bodies as they settle in for a story.  I can see the fingerprints on the walls and the windows and the fridge and the cupboards and in places you can't even imagine fingerprints could get.  I can hear the squeal of each of their voices as they said to their dad, "Do it again!  Do it again!"  I can feel the soft squeeze of  my babies' fists as they hold a finger while they nurse.  I can hear the sound a mattress makes as my children bounce up and down on the bed on the floor above me, waiting for that thump and cry that tells me that it's time to kiss the  'owie' away.  I remember each of their first days at Kindergarten and the feeling in the pit of my stomach as I wished for kind teachers and happy playmates, hoping they were ready for the 'real' world.  And in the blink of an eye the years have passed and I now have  the pleasure and the honor of watching each of these amazing people go through the same experiences with their own children. 

That's how fast motherhood passes.  Just like the roller coaster, the ride you've been anticipating as you stood in line, it is over in a flash.  Those wee babies grow up and make mistakes and learn from them, make friends, lose them and make new friends, fall in love, get hurt and fall in love again, leave home, come home and leave home again, love you, dislike you and love you again.  It's all part and parcel of motherhood and I wouldn't have missed it for the world,

Jason, Christine, Carrie and Kelly, thank you for surviving my ignorance and lack of experience.  Thank you for making motherhood so easy.  Thank you for all the hugs and kisses and tears along the way.  Thank you for being such terrific kids and now for being such terrific adults.  Thank you for sharing your own families with us day in and day out.  Thank you for making my motherhood experience such a wonderful one!  I love you!

   

 



He was a shy boy and I was a not-so-shy girl.

He was a shy boy and I was a not-so-shy girl.  He was quiet, but had an air of confidence about him.  I was not-so-quiet and while I had an air of confidence, inside I was a little less sure of myself.  I think he was the same.  That's how you are when you're 17 and you really like someone.  You shine on the outside but on the inside you just hope he likes you back.  He did.  And now 42 years have passed and we are about to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary.

If I had waited until now to marry I wouldn't have found a more perfect partner to dance through life with.  He's the calm to my storm, the salt to my pepper, the dessert to my main course.  I love seeing life through his eyes and having him see life through mine.  We are very different people brought together by a love of laughter, family and a very strong set of common beliefs.  I bring adventure to his life and he brings stability to mine and sometimes it is the other way around and that is good.

We have weathered many storms but, to steal a great quote, you don't become a good sailor on calm seas.  We don't agree on a lot of things but over the years have learned to agree to disagree. Well, okay, maybe we're still working on that one.   We have seen and done many, many things we never dreamed we'd see or do.  There are also many, many things we still dream of doing.  In fact, as the years pass by our bucket list gets longer and longer instead of shorter and shorter.

There isn't a day that goes by that I'm not thankful for all he's brought to my life.  But mostly I think that it's so wonderful knowing that some of our best days are still ahead of us!  Joanne Woodward said, "Sexiness wears thin after a while [not yet], and beauty fades [not yet] but to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, ah now that's a real treat."  He does make me laugh every day, this not-so-shy girl who married the oh-so-shy boy, and for the last 40 years life has been a treat! That's what happens when you choose the right one and he chooses you too!

     

Still true !

 

Children, Learning and Technology

 

As you can see from the picture above, my grandson has learned to use his "cell phone" at an early age.  While he was doing construction (yes, he also plays with real toys and digs in the dirt as well) he felt the need to call in the firemen so he quickly grabbed his cell phone, leaned up against the cupboard and proceeded to fill them in on the problem.  He was 3 when this picture was taken.  My granddaughter is masterful with a digital camera, an i-pad and a cell phone.  Yesterday I had face time with my 5 month old grandson who is in Toronto for a couple of weeks.  Each day I check my What's App so that I stay in touch with a wonderful group of women from all over North America.  We met at a yoga retreat in Costa Rica a few weeks ago.  They support my practice daily from far, far away.  My schedule syncs from my i-pad to my phone and I checked my i-phone notes yesterday to see how many square feet of tile I needed to pick up for my backsplash.  I read deep into the wee hours of the night on my i-books app.  I love technology!

 

The picture of my grandson tells only a little of the story that technology plays in the world of our children.  I watched a news story a few days ago discussing the merits of technology in the classroom and the announcer stated, "it is the future of our children".  My son, an educator and a techy-type guy, was agitated enough by the comment to look up from his i-pad and respond with, "It is NOT the future!  It is the PRESENT!".  He is right. And herein lies part of the problem.  Some of the people making educational decisions, some of the people teaching in our classrooms, some people in the media and some people who discuss children and technology do not understand that NOW is the future.  Our children are immersed in technology and yet many schools still ban these powerful tools from our classrooms.

 

And then there are the others.  Those that enhance their own educational development and that of their students by CAREFULLY and strategically using the tools at their disposal.  I loved the article on Kent Elementary's website telling us about Mrs. Garrioch's kindergarten class sharing their Lego creations with an Abbotsford school on a site called Skype Play.  The article acknowledges that making this tool useful has taken time and experimentation.  I also loved it that the Abbotsford students wanted to know when they could "really" play with the kids from Kent.  Technology does not interfere with real-life interaction in this case, but actually enhances it. Kent Elementary School in Agassiz, B.C. is full of technology innovators from the teaching staff  to the administration to support staff and most importantly, through the students.  A couple of years ago a student created a stunning video on Judge Begbie, the hanging judge.  The video was an animated Lego production and was presented as a "real" movie with credits rolling, a musical score and a wonderfully informed narration.  It was truly amazing, particularly for a 10 year old!  There were also many cool poster-board demonstrations.  The point is that the boy who did the video would not have been inspired by the poster boards and the students who did the poster boards may not have enjoyed completing the video.  In this case technology helped engage a student who otherwise may not have made the most of this particular learning experience.

 

And then there are the others.  I worked in a school where there was a "no personal technology" rule for all classrooms.  In the hallways these students were constantly texting, surfing the web, talking to friends, reading reminders, checking their schedules and sometimes even ordering lunch.  At lunch time they helped  me learn how to use my new i-phone.  ("No, Mrs. Watson!  You don't need to google mapquest, you can use the icon on your phone."  "Mrs. Watson, you don't need to keep bringing  your camera to school.  Use your phone camera and then e-mail the pics to yourself so you can print them!).   I learned something new every day from those students.  I hope they can say the same!  And then they went to class.  I worked with a colleague (who had come from Kent Elementary).  She was a young teacher, full of enthusiasm, full of ideas, full of innovative ways to engage those challenging middle school students.  She tried speaking with the administration about setting aside the "rule" in her classroom as she had no computers available for student use.  It was a foods class and the students used their cellphones to convert recipes from standard measurement to metric.  They used their cellphones to find how to substitute ingredients in recipes to make them healthier.  They used their cellphones to take pictures of their creations.  Their teacher was disciplined for not following the "rule".  Sad really.

 

I know I am by-passing the challenges that come with tecnhology in the classroom, particularly in a middle or high school setting, and there are many.  I think those challenges are worth taking on though and if people are willing there are answers to these challenges.  It's not a new concept this overcoming of challenges.  In fact, Abraham Lincoln spoke of it it 1862.   "The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew."

 

While I believe these two schools are at opposite ends of the spectrum on their approach to technology I do acknowledge that the spectrum is large and varied.  We think of technology as computers, in today's world it is so much more.  Many schools expose students to technology through programs  (graphic design, drafting, photography/editing, computer programming, robotics etc.)  Many engage the technology to enhance student presentations, to make them more interesting and more challenging.  Many find ways to present their own teacher material in more interesting ways as well.  Educators who are willing have unlimited technology resources at their fingertips.

 

While I am retired I am still very interested in education.  I follow a few blogs, read many articles online and love it when I am included in educational discussions.  There is a new breed of leaders out there and they are using technology to inform each other, learn from each other, challenge each others' thinking and support each other.  Their ideas are big ones.  Their "learning community" is unlimited.  The voices that speak come from different cultures, different communities, different levels of experience and different-minded thinkers.  They are richly diverse and incredibly inspiring.

 

Technology isn't part of our childrens' futures, it is their NOW.  Kudos to those educational leaders who have enriched their own learning through technology and more importantly, have found ways to enrich our childrens' learning as well. 

 

Meet Annie, The Girl Who Could Fly.  Yes, it's an ad for Dell Computers but it's also amazing!

 

http://vimeo.com/46862918

 

 

 



The Power of Touch

“Sometimes, reaching out and taking someone's hand is the beginning of a journey."

                                                  -unknown

 

 

Today, as I was driving down the freeway, I looked over at the car I was passing and witnessed the driver, a young man, reaching over to the passenger side and stroking the back of his hand alongside the cheek of the woman with him.  They were driving a rusted out old car, filled to the brim with camping supplies along with two kayaks perched precariously on the roof.  They didn't look like they had much, but they sure looked like they had love.  How did I know?  The soft, gentle stroke of his hand on her cheek reflected the love that was in his heart.  The look on her face as she leaned into that touch also spoke of her love for him. 

 

It reminded me of a scene my husband and I witnessed as we were out for an afternoon walk a few years ago.  We were strolling along the main street in our small town just enjoying the sunny day.  As we approached an older couple we watched him help her from her walker to the passenger side of the van.  He had already opened her door and now gently supported her as she made her way into her seat.  It took a bit for her to get in and settle but as soon as she did she too reached out her hand and put it gently against the cheek of her husband and with a gentle smile on her face whispered, "Thanks!".  It all happened in a few seconds but it touched our hearts and when we speak of it now we both have a clear picture in our heads of that brief, loving exchange.  The image still brings tears to my eyes.

 

When you live in a large, loving family you don't really think that much about touch.  However, I just spent two weeks away from my family and one of the things I missed the most was their touch.  The feel of their hand against my shoulder or their arms wrapped around me hugging me hello or good-bye or perhaps, just hugging me 'because'.  With two new babies in our family there is no shortage of snuggling and really, there is no other touch in the world that compares with a warm baby curled up and fast asleep against your chest, especially a newborn.  But these aren't the only ways we touch.  Think of the many ways you and your loved ones touch.  My husband and I love to snuggle up as we watch television.  We sometimes dance in the kitchen.  We hold hands when we walk.  When I am feeling stressed (which is less and less these days) I simply put my hand up against the back of his shoulder and I can literally feel the tension drain from my body.  Touching is a part of each and every day for us and for our family. 

 

Our two older grandchildren love to wrestle and trust me, this involves a lot of touching . . . and giggling. . . and laughing. . . and lots and lots of crazy names (chest thumper, arm thwacker etc. - which are really more harmless then they sound!).   We read a lot of books in our family and this always involves snuggling.  In fact, research shows that the physical interaction that happens during reading is more important than the actual physical exposure to the words.

 

When I got home from my trip I had mentioned to my family how much I had missed their touch.  My two youngest daughters told me that they had just been talking about this the week before.  They had been out for a walk together with their babies and had passed an old folks home.  They discussed whether or not it would be a good idea for them to visit this home with their babies as they both know how much their nanny (91 years old) had enjoyed snuggling the babies on our last visit with her.  I thought it was a terrific idea.

 

While I know it's dangerous territory these days I always touched the students I worked with.  A hand on the shoulder or an old-fashioned hug go a long way in making anyone feel better, not just young children. 

 

All of these things happening have made me wonder how starved for touch some people may be in their life and how we, as individuals, can give this small but precious gift to those living without it.  What do you think?