Sowing seeds.

I have watched these children since they were babies.
They have grown up so much.

I remember how, back then, the
baby class
was so sudden, and how laughter leaked from the parents during the introduction. Haha.

That's how rare the baby class was.
Six years have passed since then, and
they are graduating today.

Just as I said it was rare,
I never worked with babies after that,
and I was always the
angry ogre for the older children upstairs. Haha.
I was the scary old lady teacher.

It takes love to get angry, too.
Without love, you cannot get angry.

These children were the ones who made me realize that.
Because I spoiled them to my heart's content when they were babies,
we have an unshakable bond of trust even if I get a little angry.

For the children after them,
I only took care of them from age three,
so I am sometimes bewildered by the fact that
I am not truly angry with them.

Because I like them,
because I love them so much,
so that they won't have trouble in the future,
so that when they live as people,
they won't be disliked by their friends.

Not forcing them,
but so that they can find
what they love.

So that they don't get hurt,
so that they don't feel pain.

I sure got angry a lot. Hahaha.

It has been a long time since people started talking about praise-based childcare.
I am a relic of the Showa era.
I have become an old soldier, but
once I see these children off,
I actually have no regrets left.

Congratulations.
But I won't cry.
I have sown many seeds.
Seeds of words called picture books.

When you are sad, when you are suffering,
when you are having a hard time...

That fun story, this story...
They will surely sprout! I am sure of it.

I have been sowing seeds for this past year.

It is okay not to understand now.
Someday...

Oh, that story from back then...

I hope you feel that way.

Congratulations on your graduation.
May your future be bright!!!