One of the issues with being a working mom, (and the guilt too) is that I just can't make it to all the school things. (I make it to a lot of them.)
For the last few weeks, The Boy has been going on and on about the running they've been doing in gym class. They were training for the Pumpkin Run. His age group 7-8 was doing the 1500m. He also said he comes in dead last every time. (But really seemed ok with it, much to my surprise really.)
Today was the big event, and I couldn't make it. It was clear across town (30 minutes from my office) for what (should be at most a 7-minute event.) Le sigh. But I felt very bad. (Yes, I realize I am making excuses.) So I pick him up tonight, and two girls from his class come up to me à propos of nothing and say "The Boy did really well today in his run." From what I can gather he just kept running and passed a bunch of kids who just couldn't do it anymore, and finish well ahead of at least a 5 or six kids. "Well Mom, I said thanks for stopping as I passed them..." (guffaw.)
"Well, Mme Cheryl (Gym Teacher), said all she cared about was that we finished and that we ran the whole thing. I knew I could do it because I'd done it with you guys."
I must admit that when I dropped him off this morning, I was a bit concerned that he'd be crushed by his performance. But he's really really proud of himself. He had fun today. He did what he wanted to do... and he's ok with that. We talked about my coming in last prior to this, I'd like to think he was listening.
More than this though, given the hellish, awful, dreadful, cruel, sadistic, gym teachers I have had. I think Mme Cheryl really deserves a big nod for making sure all the kids understood about effort and talent. I remember the running block (fuck I hated them) in grade school. And I remember mandatory running in gym in high school and the pressure to keep up. (It's why I chuckled to myself when I run now.) The pressure to always win. Don't get me wrong, the kids are stoked their other classmates came in first (boys and girls) -- but it was really sweet that they were impressed that The Boy did so well and they recognized his effort. That's not the kind of thing you can teach, I think that's the kind of thing you show. And for that Mme Cheryl is elevated to one of my favourite teachers. I think I may write to tell the Principal about it.

