Today was another hard day in kindergarten. Three girls told me they missed their Mom. I suspect some boys miss their Mom too, but they didn’t say so. This is the earliest in the school year that I’ve been there to tutor. Usually by the time that I clear all the paperwork to get in, it is several months in and they are more used to the idea of school.

One little girl was crying quietly to herself when I came in. She was sitting in the middle of the other students on the rainbow rug. This isn’t her first time in school. She is repeating kindergarten, with the same teacher. I’ve worked with her before and this was new for me to see her cry. Sometimes this is a momentary thing. But when I came in after the second child I’d tutored, she was still sobbing.

I held my hand out to her and she came up to me and stood by my side. I patted her back. It wasn’t enough. I went to my knees and asked her what was wrong. That is when she told me that she missed her Mom. I said that her Mom was missing her too, and asked if she wanted a hug. She nodded yes. We hugged, and it soothed her a little.

Sometimes we can’t get hugs from the people we need hugs from, so God sends a substitute.

Another child came up. She is a good helper and very bright. She knew what the problem was. I asked her – “What do you do when you miss your Mom?” It has been so long since I was five that I’ve forgotten. I figured I could get some great advice here that would help out.

She said that she misses her Mom but just does her work anyway. This wasn’t quite what I was looking for, but it is something. Sometimes the best cure for sadness is to just work right through it.

Of course, sometimes the cure is to sit on the rainbow rug and just cry it out.