last day as a fourth grader :(

Friday was the boys last day of school for the year.  They had a short day (just a little over a half day), so they were dismissed shortly after lunch.  When I returned from the school that I work at, I was walking students out to their buses.  I walked by Mr. Gold's room and stopped to thank him again for being such a great teacher to SJ. 

SJ was still in his room, which is unusual for SJ.  Usually, he has already headed up to the office to wait for me to pick him and Bob up.  He walked up to where I was talking to Mr. Gold and asked me where he should go.  I told him I still had to walk the students out, so I told him to go to the office. 

At that point, I noticed that SJ's eyes were teary.  Mr. Gold told me that he really enjoyed having SJ in class this year and he then he looked at SJ.  "You will do great in 5th grade, SJ," said Mr. Gold. 

Then, SJ leaned in and gave Mr. Gold a hug.  And not a hug like SJ usually gives.  He usually half turns his body toward you and the person he is "hugging" has to put their arms around him.  However when he hugged Mr. Gold, he actually gave him a real hug.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  I had never seen him do this before.  I was touched that SJ made a real connection with Mr. Gold.

After SJ walked away to go the office, I could feel myself getting teary.  "You really had an effect on him," I said to Mr. Gold.  He smiled at me and I walked my students out to their buses. 

When I finally got up to the office, SJ was still somewhat teary.  When we got outside, I asked SJ if he was okay.  He mumbled that he was.  "Are you still crying?" I asked him.  "No.  I am not crying, Mom.  I am just sweating from my eyes," said SJ.  Sweating from the eyes.  I haven't heard that term in a while.  I know he is a little sad to be done with school and that he will miss Mr. Gold.  Even if he can't express that with his words, his eyes tell me exactly what he is feeling.