hugs and more

The kids are getting used to the hugs. Fewer kids hi-fived me. One boy hugged me thrice yesterday. So sweet. I was standing outside the class waiting for a student to come to me when a few others came out of the classroom to be hugged. After school today, I was seated with another student and a few of them hung around. When I asked them why they were hanging around, they said they wanted a hug. So it was a nice group hug for all of us.

I punished 5 students by making them stand outside the class for not doing their homework. One of them was the monitor. He almost always does his homework, but I got to be impartial. When he handed in his work, he didn't come forward for a hug. Neither did he make eye contact. I asked him over because everyone is supposed to give me either a hug, a hi-five or a handshake (a system a dear friend had suggested) and he came almost immediately.

I think these kids have gotten into the system of being rewarded when they are good and vice versa In a sense, because of his family situation, I don't think he has ever experienced unconditional love. I hope that in giving him a hug even though he was punished, he could catch a glimpse of this type of love.
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