Letter for Miss Stewart

 At the start of December I was clearing out Eliza's school bag and came across an envelope that was sealed. I thought it was a letter for her, maybe a Christmas card from one of her friends (I know Eliza often forgets to write who a letter is for on the front) so opened it up for her. I saw a lovely little note for Miss Stewart, her teacher. I love how much she has loved her kindy teacher. I love that she has made Eliza feel so comfortable at school, especially with so many interruptions. I love that Eliza has felt comfortable talking to her when she has felt upset. I love that she has listened to Eliza and encouraged her. So I wasn't surprised to see this note to her from Eliza, although I wasn't expecting her to write these exact words...

To Miss Stewart, Do you know that I love you! I wish that I want you to be my Mum. Love Eliza

It is a very sweet letter but I was a little bit upset reading it. To see the words 'I wish that I want you to be my mum' was a bit of a shock. In my teaching I sometimes got called Mum by accident by the kids when they were asking me a question. I sometimes got letters from kids telling me that they loved me. But I never got one saying they wished I was their Mum. As a teacher I know that we often see the kids more than some parents do. We sometimes can invest in the kids more than their parents do. But to read that she wanted Miss Stewart as her mum to me made me sad because it meant that she didn't want me to be her mum. It made me question how I have been parenting lately, it made me question how I had been treating her. I showed it to James and spoke with him about it. He was sure that she didn't mean it like that and instead meant that she just really liked having Miss Stewart as her teacher. I agreed but there was still a bit of sadness and hurt there and questioning about my parenting too.

At night I showed Eliza the letter and asked her about it. I read it to her and asked why she wrote that. Her response was 'Because I love Miss Stewart. She is so kind'. I agreed with her and said that I would be so excited if she had Miss Stewart again in Year 1 or if Daniel or Alexander had her down the track because she is just lovely and so kind and helpful. But what made me sad was reading about wanting her to be your Mum. Eliza paused and started to get tears in her eyes. I told her that that made me think that she didn't want me to be her mum and I wouldn't want to change being her mum at all, even when she drives me crazy. I love being her Mummy and I don't want anyone else to have that special job and that special name. Eliza had a tear run down her cheek and then said 'Maybe I can scribble out that part and give it to Miss Stewart just saying I love you.' We agreed that maybe she could just write a new letter for her. 

I'm glad that we spoke about it. I know that she didn't mean it in a mean way and instead wanted to say 'I want you to be my teacher again' but just didn't use the right words. I am so glad that I am Eliza's Mummy and I wouldn't want it any other way!