Two things happened at the same time; fellow blogger Pete Springer received a pacemaker, and school began. Here’s the connection- Pete visited my class two years ago all the way from California, and gifted the children Oscar the Otter. It was clear the first week of school that Oscar is #1 in popularity.
I knew I had an opportunity to connect the two, and give children the tools to give ‘get well’ wishes to Oscar’s daddy – Pete.
Nothing beats a handwritten and decorated letter.
Today Pete emailed me:
Hi Jennie,
I hope you can get the photo to open. It was very sweet of you to send me the note and picture. Teaching the kids to think about others is one of the most important lessons we can teach our students. It’s never too early to start learning about empathy.
I enjoyed my wife’s confusion as she read the note. “Oscar’s daddy? Who’s that?”
“That’s me, Debbie!” 🤣
Please tell your class how much I appreciated their pictures and kindness!
Have a great weekend,
Pete
P.S. Say hi to Steve for me.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
Bravo to Jennie for her teaching and you for connecting everything. Good post. I hope all goes well with the new hardware in your body, Pete!
Thank you, Jacqui. I never imagined that Oscar would bring Pete back, full circle.
Wonderful, Jennie! You are always surprising! Thanks, and enjoy a nice upcoming week! xx Michael
Thank you, Michael!
Oh how wonderful! And hoping Pete is in full recovery mode, too 🤗
Thank you, Ritu. You know how important and exciting our big letters are for children to write and decorate. I’m so glad Oscar opened the door for Pete. I guess he’ll now be a forever ‘Oscar’s daddy’. 😍
It’s a joy to hear and read about, Jennie 🥰
Awww… that’s so nice, Ritu. ❤️
How wonderful. I’m sure Oscar’s daddy loved the card and the sentiment. I love how our blogging community is so interconnected.
Thank you, Darlene. Yes, our blogging community is really interconnected, and it is wonderful!
You know by now that I’m President of the Jennie fan club. We may live over 3,000 miles apart, but I promised myself that I would meet you and made that happen when I visited your super classroom. People think of you as an excellent preschool teacher (they’re right 😊), but as you know, I refer to you as a teacher of teachers. More accurately, you are a teacher of people, as your lessons teach all of us something. Carry on, my friend. You’re changing and affecting lives all the time.
I’m doing well with my new pacemaker and feeling better all the time.
Well said, Pete!
❤️
My goodness, Pete. Your words are just wonderful. Thank you! I will carry one, for it is you and others who light the way for me. I am deeply grateful for that. I’m very glad you’re doing well with your pacemaker!
Well put, Pete. A teacher of people is exactly what Jennie is. Glad you are feeling better.
❤️
Such love!
Yes, and the best! Thank you, Annette. ❤️
I love the photo of Pete with his thoughtful get-well card!
I do, too! I’m so glad he sent me the photo.
😀
Thanks for the smile.
You are welcome.
so cute and sweet and funny
😍
What a marvelous post, Jennie. Best wishes to Pete for a speedy recovery. Hugs to you both.
Many thanks, Teagan! Hugs. 😍
A lovely thing to do.
Thank you, John.
😊
How wonderful for Pete and the children. Sending get well cards is a dying art. It would lovely to bring it back. Hope the kids get some inkling of how unique this opportunity is.
Thank you, Marlene. I hate how technology (emailing and texting) has overshadowed handwritten cards and letters. Fortunately children are hands-on learners, so these big letters give them great learning opportunities- from letter recognition when we write the words, to expressing themselves in drawing, to understanding giving.
Great lesson for the kids (and great kids)!
Thanks, Dan!
Great stuff Jennie! Keep on keeping on!
Thanks, FR!
He couldn’t ask for a warmer get well message
I think you are right about that. Thank you, Don.
Wonderful idea, Jennie!
Thank you, Becky!
Great idea! Hope Pete is recovering well, and that his wife didn’t get too much of a shock (as regards being Oscar’s daddy, lol)!
Thank’s Stevie. I loved Pete’s wife reaction- hilarious! He is recovering. 🙂
Great!
🙂
That was so beautiful Jennie. No doubts it meant a lot to Pete too. ❤
Thanks so much, Debby. I think it did! 💕
❤
Love it Jennie and Pete…and I can imagine that little confusion about Oscar and his Daddy lol.. teaching children to have empathy is a life lesson so many miss out on.. they are lucky to have you both in their lives. ♥
Thanks so much, Sally. If only all children had a foundation of empathy and giving….💕
Now this is the most precious thing ever! Jennie, you’re teaching the kids thankfulness, kindness, compassion, writing,…SO MANY SKILLS. And Pete, what a gift you are in “gifting” them Oscar! 💛 My soul is smiling!
Thank you, Karla! 😍
It’s my pleasure, Jenny! ❤️🌞☀️🏔️🤗
Aww. How sweet! I love that you’re teaching little kids to express their innate compassion. Great pictures of the kids and Pete on the receiving end.
Thanks so much, Diana!
Hi Jennie, what a lovely idea and letter. I’m sure Pete was thrilled
I think he was, Robbie. Many thanks!
How wonderful!! That’s a great lesson and letter. I hope Steve has a full recovery.
Thanks so much, Deborah! Pete tells me he is recovering. 🙂
Hi Jennie,
This is a wonderful post!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Charles. Thank you!
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What a wonderful thing for the kids (and you, Jennie) to do! Best wishes to Pete in his recovery! Love ‘n hugs to all!!!
Thanks so much, Jill!
That is right nothing beats a handwritten and decorated letter. That is beautiful and I wish Pete a strong recovery and good health. Oscar was a great idea.
Thank you! When Pete visited my class, he brought Oscar and an accompanying book. I’m glad Oscar has remained very popular.
That was wonderful to teach the kids to do – caring! I love Pete’s picture.
Thanks, Miriam!
what a wonderful gift to Pete, as well as a way to teach the children gratitude and empathy. And you’re right, nothing beats a handwritten and decorated letter. You can tell the children’s notes came from the heart.
Thanks so much, Jim!
Aww.
There’s nothing better than a thoughtful letter and that was a thoughtful letter.
Indeed ‘Get Well’ Oscars Dad!? lol
Thank you, Sue. Writing these giant letters, from ‘thank you’ to ‘get well’ is hugely popular, and teaches children something important.
Totally agree.
the art of letter writing should not be lost.
Exactly!