The Light in Her Eyes

"Our kids LOVE going to school now."

"My four-year-old asked me about which planets have rings."

"The light in her eyes is on again!"

Over the past week, I have started each morning by having breakfast with new families and listening to their stories. The quotes above are just a sampling of observations about their children's responses to High Meadows.

Of the three quotes, the third one (or variations thereof) is probably the one I hear the most often. 

As parents, we know that light. It signals discovery, joy, love. We look for it every day and celebrate it when we see it. We also know the pain of seeing that lack of light, which we interpret as boredom. Lack of engagement. Resignation. 

For me, hearing that a child's eyes are illuminated is the highest praise possible for High Meadows and what our teachers do so well. They create an environment in which children feel invariably comfortable and confident. They encourage them to play and to question. Our teachers show respect for children as fellow human beings with a thirst for learning. And our kids love them for it.

Our great wish is that our children will continue to shine that light. As a beacon of light always does, it draws us in and guides us. May each child's light show other children--and all of us--the way to a full, joyful life.