Permission Giver

I had a weird day involving Child Vomit, A Student in Tears, and a Skateboarding Professor.
We are interviewing for a new candidate, and it turned out that the candidate skateboarded.
But he gave it up five years ago after having a child and getting married and being in academe.
What IS it about academe that forces people to conform or to somehow act the part of "professor?"
Anyway, when he learned that I was a Skateboarding Professor, I like to think that it made some connection for him and that he will now skate again.
We cannot give up who we are for anyone else including our children.
We serve ourselves and them best if we say honestly who we are and what we are about. And if others can't deal that is THEIR problem.
Speaking of which: I am also knitting a prayer shawl, a wonderful mohair shawl. It is lovely, and I am enjoying working on it.
I am proof that humans are complicated, that women can skateboard AND knit and do anything else that they want. We do best as humans when we are NOT put into boxes or reduced into roles.
Because that isn't how we ARE no matter how much we--or society--might think otherwise.
* * *
Just after my morning class a student stayed late to say that she wanted to turn the homework in late.
I said, "sorry but I don't take late work."
She immediately dissolved into tears.
I was surprised and taken aback.
What could be wrong?
I said not to worry overly, that the lack of homework shouldn't hurt her grade as long as it doesn't become a habit.
She then said, "no I wanted to thank you because something you said last class spurred me to do something important."
"What?" I asked.
"I don't want to talk about it," she said.
"Was it good?" I said.
"Yes, she said. "It will be."
And then she dissolved afresh.
I was puzzled, intrigued, concerned...
Brian has been calling me Stand and Deliver all night. And Dead Poet Society. I'll just be at the sink, and he says, "Stand and Deliver."
It makes me laugh.
But What could I have said? What did she do?
I suppose it is amazing; we think we are having no effect on people around us and then suddenly we realize that we are. We have such profound impact on each other. It's pretty startling.
* * *
And then I had coffee with Laura, but Brian called to say that Aidan was sick, so I hurried home to be greeted by Child Vomit...He's better now, sleeping...It seemed fitting on this strange day that Nothing should go as expected.