Slice of Life, Day 16-- "The Reality"

The reality of my kids' lives hits home more on some days. Today was one of those days. I guess, really, this week was one of those weeks.

I found myself a sponge, hearing more and seeing more than usual. Maybe they talked more, maybe I listened more.

I can't tell the stories and that hurts me the most. I want to be their loudspeaker, to go on the news and tell the truth about immigration, migration, and refugee camps that no one wants to hear.  I want to tell everyone.

But trust, confidentiality, and respect mandate that my lips must be sealed from revealing things that would shock most Americans. Not most educators, but many of our neighbors.

The reality is that these truths get buried through fear, trauma, pain, and sometimes just not wanting to be different from others. I think they only tell me, because our classroom is full of children like them. The shared community allows them to tell a story that is so normal to them to people to whom it is also normal.

This sharing helps them. They've bonded in ways  I can't even understand, and I see them everyday.

I wonder sometimes who will be the ones from this classroom who will grab that microphone and shout it all like I wish I could. Who will be the leaders who will make sure that things change, both here and abroad? Who are my world-changers?

I pray they all will be.