Tough Love.

Today was my last day tutoring my seven quirky fourth graders in the math resource room. I had great days in there and I had horrible days, but I really love those kids, and I mean it. They can be total troublemakers, but each one of them has such a loveable personality.

One little mister in the class was a mean one. But he was smart. Very, very smart. Kind of intimidating, actually.

When I first started working with him, he loved to insult me to my face and bully the other kids and tell dirty jokes, just to see me flustered. It didn't take me too long to stand my ground and he learned I wouldn't put up with his behavior.

But that wasn't enough. I had to learn to love him too. It was hard, when all I saw in him at first was trouble. But eventually I saw past his mean exterior, and discovered so many qualities I admired in him: his sharp wit, his quick comebacks, his competitive spirit, his confident swagger. I really liked this kid, and I made sure to tell him this every single week.

I was really tough on him, but I complimented him a lot, and I tried to never show that I was flustered. He still gave me a hard time, but asked me to work with him every week for the last month.

Today, after saying goodbye to all the kiddos as they were leaving class, I saw this little tough boy in the hallway. I said, "Hey! You gonna miss me??"

He scrunched up his face in disgust and then rolled his eyes and yelled "Maybe!!"

I said, "Oh, I KNOW you are!! ha!"

He tried not to let it, but the tiniest smile spread across his face. It made the last twelve weeks worth it.

Even the mean ones have a lot of sweetness in them.