Sometimes

Sometimes a student asks you for help putting his unruly curls in an elastic because he doesn't know how. So you do it. And then you give the kid a packet of natural hair conditioner from your classroom toiletry station to help with the dryness. 

Sometimes a student tells you that they want to "fail" their yearly ELL test so they can stay in your class. 

Sometimes a student says "Can you adopt me?", and even though you know they're joking, it touches your heart. 

Sometimes you are sad to have a student teacher only because it means you will be teaching less and you love that part of your day. 

Sometimes your students make you laugh even though you know you shouldn't laugh. 

Sometimes you connect with colleagues in the parking lot of your school and laugh a lot, and it's just what you needed that day. 

Sometimes your student hand crafts tiny paper baskets and fills them with candy, one for each student in the class, for Valentine's Day. 

Sometimes a student says to you, "You look great! Really great!" and makes you smile. That same student, who cried every day for the first week of school in a country new to him, now says "This is the BEST school."
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Sometimes your work spouse gives you a stuffed Snoopy that you put by your desk and smile every time you look at it. 

Most of the time, your students make you forget your deep sadness with their all-consuming energy, and you are grateful for them.