"Thank You"

Sometimes it is hard to comprehend the depth and meaning of the words “thank you.” I thought about it all weekend after a perfect day at my children’s school because I really wish I could impart what the words truly mean when I say them. It was parent’s visitation day for all three of my children, Henry (2nd grade), Audrey (1st grade) and Stanley (kindergarten). I was a little stressed out about juggling my time with each one, so between my twin sister Julie, my husband and I, we managed to see all three without skipping a beat.

Julie was amazed at how comfortable and confident Henry was in his Math and Reading class. While I had the pleasure of seeing Henry with his Hebrew teachers, Morah Stein and Morah Dina. Both teachers embraced their class with enthusiasm and joy…my son looked on with pride as I watch him. Pride in himself and his teachers…and all I could think about in that moment was how far Henry has come from being a very sick little boy with severe asthma that prompted frequent hospital visits almost every month for the first three years of his life to a happy, confident, well-loved 2nd grader. It was agonizing watching him struggle to breathe all the time, but Henry always faced it with ease and calmness. Now, when I see him laughing with his friends, waving his hand feverishly with confidence in class, I think about how thankful I am to the teachers who watch over him all day with such love and care. He used to be my fragile little angel, and now he is growing into a kind, smart, loving, boy who cares deeply for others.

Audrey smiled from the very minute I arrived that day. Her teacher Ms. Simon was brilliant as usual, completely in command of her classroom guided with compassion and intelligence. Audrey stayed focused and as you would expect of a little girl, performed for us like a rock star. Ms. Simon stopped at one point to say “hello” to me and introduce herself to my sister who was seated next to me without flinching or missing a direction in her lesson. It was like watching a gold medal syncronized swimmer in competition. I was so thankful at that moment to have a role model for my daughter who symbolizes strength, warmth and dignity. Audrey is not an easy child because she is strong-willed, opinionated and smart like her mamma, but Ms. Simon gained her trust and Audrey responds easily to Ms. Simon. Last week, Audrey came home and said, “Morah Ziffer said I should do things the first time I am asked. So from now on, I am going to be a good listener and do everything you ask of me the first time.” THANK YOU, Morah Ziffer! Audrey is a strong girl who has met her match in two amazingly strong, compassionate women. Keep on teachin!

Then you have my little Stanley. Small, but confident, focused yet fun. Content and happy 24/7. He has a face and disposition that seems to reel everyone in. My sister was watching him with Mrs. Waxman and Mrs. Lowenthal and said to me, “They love your son, Jenny.” I know they do. I watched as Mrs. Lowenthal bent over to give my son Tzedukah money, which I had forgotten to pack for him mistakenly. Waxman/Lowenthal is a mighty one-two punch…they are a knock down, drag out, powerful team of teaching excellence. They don’t miss anything and they love my child almost exactly the way I do every single day. How do I say “thank you” for that type of commitment?

I will lay it on the line and tell you that I have been through a lot in my life. I have lost. Lost my mother, my father, my brother and a baby. Nothing can replace them, or dissuade the pain of the memories that surface every time I have a good or bad moment that I wish I could share with them. But when I have a day like Friday, when I see and feel the attention to detail my Beth Tfiloh teachers have for all the children, my heart is at peace. Thank you, Mrs. Waxman, Mrs. Lowenthal, Morah Shapiro, Morah Shoshi, Ms. Simon, Morah Ziffer, Mrs. Balser, Morah Dina and Morah Stein. You all are the gift I give to my children every day and for the rest of their lives. Thank you for doing it so well and with such love.  “Thank you!”