Tough Times

So today I received an e-mail form my principal about one of my students. Apparently the mother of one of my students requested a meeting with all of my students teachers. I went to the meeting and the mother basically broke down in tears because they were losing their home. The whole family would be living in with grandma, who lives right down the street. Luckily, my student won't have to change schools, but my heart just broke for the entire family. I was not sure what to say or do when the student walked in. We spent the first 20 minutes talking about what we did over Thanksgiving break and plans of course included seeing movies, shopping, sports, sleeping, playing WII, etc. Then I got to the student without the home. Surprisingly, he shared everything with the whole class. Didn't give many details of why, but said that he found out he had to move in with grandma, spent the weekend not shopping, or hanging out with friends, but selling his bunk bed for some extra money, and decorating a sheet that he would spread over over the living room couch---why would you do that the students asked---because that is my new bed, he said. Ughh, I totally starting crying in class, I felt so bad for this kid. I wanted to take the little teacher salary that I have and just give it all to him and his family. He seemed relatively in good spirits, I think it was good that he shared it, rather than keeping it a secret. After class I pulled him aside and told him I was sorry, and if he needs to talk about anything I am always here. Then, this little 11 year old tells me my favorite quote is "Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail." He says, my family has failed, they have fallen down, but we will get up again, I just know it! I don't give my middleschoolers enough credit for how much of life they have already experienced, and how wise they are about so many things. It definitely puts life in perspective, I truly hope he and so many families in this suffering economy are able to get back on their feet and support their families, maybe with a new president, and hopefully some big change ahead, so many families will be relieved of these hard times.