To Sophia's Teachers

I registered Sophia for Kindergarten this week. Then I wrote this letter to Sophia's future teachers. 

To the Teachers of Sophia Creach: First of all, thank you. For everything you're about to do for Sophia. For everything you've already done to prepare for her. You and I can only imagine the impact you will have on her spirit, not to mention her mind. Thanks for caring enough to be here with her, helping to prepare her for life. It can't hurt for you to have a little extra preparation, so I thought I'd let you know a few things. I know you've taught lots of amazing kids. Many of them have been remarkable. Once you have become part of Sophia's world, I think you'll agree that a child as memorable as Sophia is a treasure. 

You'll be happy to know that she won't sneak around on you. As a matter of fact, when Sophia does anything that is opposed to the rules you've established (or even one she thinks should be established), she will come right to you and confess it. In preschool, she tells her teachers when she forgets to listen to their instructions, especially when they don't notice. I think it's only fair that you know about Sophia's supersonic hearing. I kind of wish I had a warning about that one. She may look like she's not paying attention, but she is absorbing every word and every unspoken message you're sending. I know this because occasionally she gives herself away by entering a conversation she wasn't near. The softer you speak, the more attentive she'll be. Like I said, she picks up on signals you're not giving out loud too. She is sensitive. The essence of Sophia is absolute tenderness. I don't mean that she'll run away crying. That only happens when you least expect it. I do mean that she can gauge the temperature of any given room surprisingly fast. Often she'll adjust her own demeanor to match it or to smooth it. Regardless, she is picking it up, and she'll happily tell you about it if you ask. She watches out for her friends and for the people that she says just aren't her friends yet. She uses her words carefully to protect the hearts of others. But sometimes she forgets to protect her own heart in the process. 

Sophia likes to talk. I've done my best to help with this last one, but I can't make any guarantees. I like to talk, too. It's all I ever got in trouble for in school, and that happened often. Sophia's daddy and I have been talking with her a lot about respect. How important it is to show respect to others that we come in contact with every day. How our teachers deserve an extra dose of respect since they're spending time with kids to help them grow and learn. All I ask of you is that you show some respect to Sophia, too. Just give her the benefit of the doubt when she forgets to wait her turn to speak. I promise that she's trying. And when you show respect to Sophia and her classmates, it will make my job so much easier to remind Sophia what respect looks and feels like. As you are working tirelessly to help these kids to develop their minds, please protect their hearts. Please protect Sophia's heart. I promise not to blame you when her heart inevitably gets broken. I'll help her get it back together and be glad that it's a Kindergarten heartbreak and not the high school kind. I promise to support you in whatever way I can. I promise to give you the benefit of the doubt, too. Sophia will most likely never say an unkind thing about you, although she does have a judgmental eye for fashion. I'll be generous in my response. 

 Thanks again for everything. I'll never be able to repay you. 

 Respectfully yours, Sophia's mom