Where I’m From

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“Our days are happier when we give people a bit of our heart, rather than a piece of our mind.” – unknown

My daughter, Miss O, wrote a poem for her fifth grade class. She will be graduating tomorrow and is on to middle school. Her experience at our neighborhood elementary school has been enriching, rewarding, and sweet. We’ve all made so many great friends and connections — which is amazing given that she started as a pandemic kindergartner doing classes online at age five.

Here’s Miss O’s poem. I’ll just sit off to the side with a box of tissues while you read it… 🙂

I am from
love
from
patience
and
kindness

I am from the
grass in the backyard
crisp
fresh
always green

I am from
The purple flowers down the block
Lavender-colored and
filled with
sweet honey

I am from
Christmas eve
in church
singing
and holding candles up to the sky

And doing
crazy things
just because we
feel like it
from going on
adventures
and celebrating holidays

I’m from the place
where there is always
good food
and where
projects
are our love language

From “Miss O, can you go help your brother?”
and
“When I’m gone do this list of 3,000 chores!”

I’m from
Rainy days with
Puddling jumping
Hot chocolate
Heated blankets
Movies
And love

I’m from
A chill neighborhood
In Seattle

And
Fresh baked
Cookies
And ice cream

(featured photo is Miss O on her first day of Kindergarten and last week)

You can find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/ and Instagram @wynneleon

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64 thoughts on “Where I’m From”

  6. Oh my…. if she’s writing like this now can you imagine with a few more years under her belt? Wonderful. Bravo Miss O and… bravo Mom for raising such a bright girl.

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  7. Excellent poem, Miss O. I love its breadth, depth and detailed understanding of individual identity. The teacher in me, Wynne, would like to talk to her about what she means by some of those sentences – to explore how well she can express her understanding, thoughts and feelings to a deeper level.

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  9. This is beautiful! It is such a tender portrait of childhood, love, and home woven into everyday moments.
    Miss O has a gift for seeing the heart in the ordinary and it goes without saying, that she has a way with words!

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  11. Oh my goodness! From a 5th grader!! You may have already done this, but you may want to frame this, and place it in a spot you can read it every morning to fill your day up with joy!! 💗💗💗 What an absolutely beautiful childhood you have given your children Wynne!

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  12. This is absolutely beautiful. I love how it captures the innocence and playfulness of childhood, appreciation of ordinary and mundane, but also budding maturity… and an itty jab at mom for good measure. What a lovely young lady Miss O is growing into. 💗

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  13. Please tell Miss O’s that I like the way her mind runs, and that I very much enjoyed her poem.

    Things like the move from primary to middle school are so bittersweet. You’re so proud of you kids, and excited with them, but they’re also growing up, and that always caused my heart to clutch that little bit.

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  14. Wise beyond her years … no longer a child … a young woman with a child”s joy of life and love for others nourished by her mother. Can’t wait to see what Ms. O will accomplish in her life … good job Mom 🙂

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  16. Awww! I love this:

    “where there is always
    good food
    and where
    projects
    are our love language”

    ❤ ❤ ❤

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  21. Miss O sounds like a happy, well-adjusted kid. Way to go, Mom!

    These lines gave me a chuckle:

    From “Miss O, can you go help your brother?”
    and
    “When I’m gone do this list of 3,000 chores!”

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  22. Oh this is so beautiful, Wynne! 🥹

    And how absolutely poetic she will be graduating on your birthday tomorrow. Enjoy both celebrations. Sending you all so much love for tomorrow! 💕

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    1. Oh, you are so tuned in, Ab! Yes, it was lovely to see her graduate too. And we got a surprise because she won the Seymour Kaplan award for being kind and inclusive. I was bawling, my friend!! Good luck to you all on Thursday!! ❤ ❤ ❤

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    1. I’m all out, my friend! 🙂 Olivia’s 5th grade graduation was today and we got a surprise because she won the Seymour Kaplan award for being kind and inclusive. I was bawling! Thank you for the lovely comment, Edward!

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    1. I loved that too, Michelle! I thought that might resonate with you — and you wouldn’t believe how much decluttering we did over the past 6 weeks. The house wasn’t going to AirBnB itself… 🙂

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  28. That poem is amazing, Miss O you ARE ready middle school. Question is, is your mom? Oh, how our kiddos grow, that photo and poem show so much growth, but just wait for middle school from child to young adult in three years. Enjoy your summer and prepare for liftoff in September.

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    1. Good question, Clay!! What a trajectory – and I love that you’ve been able to educate so many kids through it. I’m not sure I’m ready – but knowing there are teachers like you out there makes it easier!

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