Forgiveness

Devon has two of the most amazing preschool teachers in the world. There is Maggie, who is quite possibly one of the lovliest creatures to roam the earth, and although she is well into her twenties, she looks as though she shouldn’t even be driving yet. Then there is Jan. Jan is a seasoned Montessori teacher for both preschoolers and elementary kids. Her grasp on what kids need and how to help them is beyond words. On top of that, Jan is English, as in civilized, well bred and in possession of that beautiful sing-songy accent that goes with being English. In the mornings she will greet me with, “Gooood morning, Heath-ah! How awwwww youuuuuu today?” Devon loves both of his teachers with the unbridled passion that is exclusive to two year-olds and Golden Retriever dogs. He always runs into the classroom yelling, “Yay! Yay! Yay! Hi Maggie! Hi Jan!” He then flings himself through the air and into their arms. It always warms my heart to think of Devon spending his preschool mornings with these women.
Devon loves school so much that he will often have long and invovled monologues with himself about the happenings at school. So last night when we were driving home from a Wal Mart run, it was not at all unusual to hear him in the backseat recounting the lunch dialogue from the day. I could hear talking about “hon-ie-dooooo melon!”, one of the only foods other than yogurt that ever passes his lips. He then began yakking about the drinks. “You want some millllllk? No. No milllllk today. No millllk? Oh. Okay. How about watah? Would you like some wat-aaaahhhhh, Devon?”
With those last six words it was as if Ms. Jan was sitting in the back seat of the car. Devon took on her exact tone of voice and her refined English accent. It was amazing. And quite possibly one of the most precious things I have ever heard. With the massive amounts of cuteness packed into that one sentence, I forgave him each and every transgression he had ever committed. No nap? Didn’t even matter. To hear a middle aged Englishwoman come out of his angelic mouth erased all of his sins. Funny what can do that.