I don't know if the story I'm going to pass along to you today is true or not. It is one of those stories that, if not true, it certainly could be true. I'm sure all kindergarten teachers and every loving, selfless and caring mom and dad can identify with the story of the teacher who was helping one of her students put on his snow boots on the first big snowfall of the year.
The story takes place in Minnesota, and as it was winter, boots and mittens were a necessity. Some years ago, without this stretchable rubber stuff, putting on boots was a struggle; a struggle Mrs. Smith, the teacher, faced without complaint. Mrs. Smith began to help this young boy on with his boots. It was only when Mrs. Smith had wiggled and worked the second boot to a point in which it was almost on her young student’s second foot that the young boy commented, "Mrs. Smith, I think my boots are on the wrong foot." Well, sure enough, the boots were on the wrong feet. "This has been a long day,” Mrs. Smith thought to herself. The day didn't get any shorter or easier as she wiggled and worked the boy's boots off.
With a deep sigh, and a heaven-sent prayer, Mrs. Smith started the process all over again. With great effort, Mrs. Smith angled and arduously worked the boots back on the young boys feet. She helped the young boy up to his feet and with a loving smile said, "There, you’re all set!" The boy looked down at his feet, and slowly raised his face and eyes to look at his teacher and said, "Mrs. Smith, these aren't my boots." At that moment, Mrs. Smith closed her eyes and called upon all her years of experience of being a dedicated and caring educator of young people and gently said, "Oh, I'm so sorry, dear. Maybe that's why they went on with great difficulty. Let's take these boots off and put your boots on.". It was remarkable how clear her words were, considering she was speaking those kind words through clenched teeth. Veins were standing out on her neck and forehead by the time those boots came off for the second time. Then, the young boy offered a comment which explained the challenging ordeal of the boots. "Mrs. Smith, these boots are my brother's. Mom said that I had to wear them today. I don’t know why."
Mrs. Smith knelt down to the boy and with commanding determination struggled, scuffled and tussled to slide those boots on the boys feet one more time.
Mrs. Smith then stood up, and with a satisfied sense of joy and gladness asked the young boy, "Now, where are your mittens?" The young boy, with all the innocence and sincerity of a six-year-old replied, "Well, I didn't want to lose my mittens, so I stuffed them into the toes of my boots."
Post a comment