All I Ever Needed to be Thankful for I Learned in Preschool

In my day, there was no such thing as preschool. I played at my mother’s feet while she cooked and cleaned. I rode in the taxi with my mother as she ran errands and was amazed at the bigger world around me.

In the afternoons, I ran around outside as my mother drank coffee and talked to neighbors.  I guess you could say my mother was my first preschool teacher. She read with me, colored with me, watched my dramatic performances, taught me Judaica as she cooked the holidays meals, shined the silver, walked to shul and lit the candles for Shabbat. My mother made me thankful for the safe cozy world around me.

Fast forward 42 years and preschool has become a part of the early childhood experience. Families come to our preschool, so they can learn, grow and connect with the community. It is true that children learn everyday at our school, but it is equally true that we re-learn some very important things from the children.

Children innately know what to be thankful for. There are no internal struggles when asked by the teachers what they are thankful for. Our Pre-K class leads the way in reminding us of all the things we need to remember to be thankful for.

Colin, Lily, Eden and Maya remind us to be thankful for our parents and our siblings. They already know how important family is and as adults, sometimes we forget.

Shad, Ethan D. and Joshua are thankful for gorillas, sea turtles and tigers. With “progress”, adults have forgotten the delicate balance of nature. Children remind us each day to be thankful and respectful of God’s beautiful animal creations.

Along the same lines, Aidan, Ethan S. and Mason are thankful for the creation of trees, the green grass and the beautiful flowers. Through their young eyes, grown-ups stop and look at the beauty of God’s world.

Martin and Rebecca are thankful for all the things that warm our bodies and imaginations; the sun and rainbows.

As a child, I never went to preschool. However, all I ever need to be thankful for I relearn each day through our preschoolers’ eyes. So as I walk the halls, I remember to be thankful for what is truly important; the beauty and importance of God’s creations, the warmth of the sun and our families in our lives.

The teachers and I are thankful for the laughter and the lessons our 223 preschoolers give us every day.