I’m finished with this school year’s tutoring; no tutoring this summer.  I’m relieved – exhausted – and sad. 

Each girl had one final lesson with me last night, and each girl was clearly having a tough time saying “goodbye.”  M., my motivated and enthusiastic student, was acting out in strange ways, giggling too loud and hard and being a bit silly.  And another sure sign of stress popped up, as she struggled terribly with a problem that only surfaces for her when she’s stressed out: she kept giving the letter j the hard sound of g, making “Cajun” become “Cagun.”  Over and over and over again, which is not like her at all.  But M. and I resolved the bittersweet sadness of summer vacation approaching by reminding each other that we’ll be working together in the fall.

It was a different story for A., who has graduated from my instruction and will no longer need me next year.  Last night was definitely our last lesson together, and A. kept writing little notes to me on the edge of her paper: “I’ll miss you!”  “You’re the BEST teacher!”  and “Thank you for teaching me!!!!”  Lots of smiley faces and lots of cute, sweet comments.

At the last moment this past weekend, I decided to buy a book or books for each girl as an end-of-school-year present, and I am so glad that I did.  As I left last evening, each girl was happily clutching her book(s), and I know for sure that they’ll read them over the summer.  For M., I picked Blue Balliett’s The Calder Game, and for A. I chose Blue Balliett’s Chasing Vermeer and Michael Buckley’s The Fairy-Tale Detectives. 

And the girls each bought me a present, presents that show how thoughtful and perceptive they each are.  A. got me a bag chock-full of Lindt truffles to feed my chocolate addiction, and a bar of pink grapefruit soap from the Body Shop to feed my soap addiction.  M. made a point of telling me that she had paid careful attention last week when I talked about my favorite things to do, so she picked out a cool, funky pair of slippers and a gift certificate to the Concord Bookshop.  “Because,” she said, “You told me your favorite thing to do is read a book while sitting by the woodstove with a cat in your lap.  So you can wear the slippers to keep your feet warm and use the gift certificate to get a new book.  See?  I was paying attention!” as she tapped her forehead.

Great kids, both of them.  I’ll miss them this summer, for sure.  But, as with all bittersweet things, there is a good side:  more sleep for Abby, less of a sense of perpetual exhaustion.  Goodbyes are hard that way, both good and bad and happy and sad.  Have a terrific summer, M. and A.!