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Thankful Thursday: Rays of Sunshine

 I'm thankful for today. Today was amazing. I love how my learners and I got talking and it just opened a space for so much more. More understanding and sympathy.


We were doing revision for the last term test and as I was asking questions, I was amazed like always, by how smart kids are; particularly mine 😍🤣. Of course I'm biased.


The other thing that really stood out for me is how kids can be deep thinkers (not think on the surface). I posed a question regarding how we can make others happy and there were so many wonderful answers but one that stood out for me, is giving hope to others. I really love that. We've gone through so much for the past years  and we are required to show up  without even having enough time to grieve or process things. There's so much life demands that it feels like we're  breathless or playing catch-up.


I also asked the kids what makes them sad: the answers included being shouted, laughed at and one boy mentioned how sad he was when he lost his father. 

One girl also mentioned how her aunt got sick and she thought it was just flu. And the next day the hospital called to inform them that she's  late. She started choking and eventually cried. And I love how at that moment, the kids sympathized and comforted her. And some started being teary too.


And this reminded me of Chris Hani's daughter mentioning how the child is neglected when there's death in the family and they don't get to process things or get asked how they are. Nor is their healing process monitored.


This made realize that kids need an outlet to talk about life, their own experiences and so much more. I really wish there was more time. I hope next week we'll have time to connect. It also made me realize, I shouldn't be so immune to tears. 


I'm not big on crying or crying publicly. And seeing others cry isn't nice. Also, I've learnt besides hugging, I need to stop saying don't cry when kids do cry. I say this to comfort but I also don't want kids to lose that vulnerability. 


There's so much I want to express, how I'm learning to better relate with the kids, to be patient and meeting each kid's needs (still a long way to go). 


Basically, God is good.

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