One Pang of Regret

I truly have had very few regrets about moving from elementary school to middle school.  I don't regret leaving the library I started (which was in great shape to hand over to someone new...unlike the library I inherited), I'm not sad about leaving the little ones (whom I adore!!), not sad about leaving my colleagues (except a few... D.W. you know I mean you!).

But on Monday night, the night before school officially started, I read this Facebook post from a former student, who is now a mom (click the image to read it without being cut off):

How else would a child know about Elizabeth Blackwell except through Judy Moody (1st yellow arrow)?!?! When Jodie responded as she did (2nd yellow arrow), I immediately teared up.  I do not have this kind of knowledge of middle school books yet.  And will I lose this crazy encyclopedic knowledge of children's literature? Sigh.

That was really the only moment when I had a pang of regret leaving what I know well. I know that I'll learn MS literature as well as I know children's lit, but it was such a watershed moment. Thank you, my former student Jodie, for enriching your daughter's life with Judy Moody and mine by staying in touch after all these years.  Thank you Megan McDonald, for teaching me about Elizabeth Blackwell.