….every single thing went wrong.

At least that is what I thought initially.

Every year, in our school we celebrate United Nations day with much gusto. Kids practice for couple of weeks. We make a list of countries every one of the 150+ children represents. They come dressed in the traditional costume of that country, sing a song for each country, place the country’s flag on the world map etc. Parents bring a meal and it is a huge potluck with at least 300-400 plates served.

This being the kindergarten year Chula had a part. So naturally I was pumped. Even before the school year began, I declared in the staff meeting that I am planning to take UN day off and attend as a parent. R was supposed ordered to come for the celebration.

Two days back R said that he has an important meeting scheduled and cannot make it to the celebration. Okay, at least I am going, I thought. My first sub cancelled and I had to find a second sub. I did and took a deep breath. On the day of the celebration, I found out one of my two colleagues had a serious emergency and will not be coming to school. As much as I was sorry for her, I was devastated because we will be out of ratio if I stepped out of the room. So I called R and told him that he has to do what ever he has to do and be at school to record the celebration. So R decided to work from home and attend the meeting through phone. Problem solved? Apparently not. He calls 15 min later and says that there is a power cut in our area and his working from home is not going to fly after all. So we decided to bundle up our class children and take them out to watch the celebrations. We got them dressed, booted and jacketed and went out 10 min after the celebrations started. Just as I was getting my breath back, it started to drizzle. How can we have our class out in the rain? But it so happened that one of our children went home with his mom, we were in ratio, my other two colleagues took the eight we had inside the room and I got to stay outside.

As I was recapping this out of ratio – in ratio, can go-can’t go status changes and madness that followed, in my head, I was thinking about the kind hearts at work today.

The colleague who had the emergency and had to take the day off, called in early morning and asked our receptionist to personally apologize to me. For her to think of me even when she was in great sorrow? I was touched. Then my other colleague and my sub, who came up with a plan and managed the class when I was outside attending the event. Though we were in legal ratio, we have two new children and two babies. I can only imagine the exhausting work they must have endured when I was outside enjoying my daughters. Not to mention, R’s meeting was cancelled in the last minute and he was also able to make it.

Now tell me gentle reader, ain’t I blessed?! Some where up there some one is looking out for me 🙂 As this thought floats through my mind the kids chant Gandhi’s peace prayer.

I OFFER YOU PEACE.

I OFFER YOU LOVE.

I OFFER YOU FRIENDSHIP.

I HEAR YOUR CRY.

I SEE YOUR BEAUTY.

I FEEL YOUR PAIN.

MY WISDOM FLOWS FROM A HIGHER SOURCE.

I SALUTE THAT SOURCE IN YOU.

LET US WORK TOGETHER.

Can’t help but dedicate this post for the people who felt my pain and worked together to help me.