a pocket full of dandelions

There are days working in child care that make you want to scream. Someone calls in sick, leaving the facility short handed. A child comes to school in a foul mood and nothing you can do will help. Another child spills his milk all over him and doesn't have any extra clothes to change into. While you are occupied with that child, 2 others decide that was pretty funny, so they pour their milk out on the floor. Another child displays a severe need for for an attitude adjustment (sadly, the only thing you are legally allowed to do for that is time out). It would be so easy to walk out and never come back.



And then a child comes running across the playground holding a dandelion picked through the chain link fence aloft like an Olympic torch. He stops and hands it to you, saying "you're my best teacher!"



That little bit is just enough to keep you coming back for more.