Ready, OK!

Yesterday was my last day as a cheer leading coach, and let me tell you, it was not the cheeriness that got me through the long month.
These girls were nothing but trouble: loud, rude, prideful, and mean. Looking back to my first day, I remember walking into the school thinking "this is will the world's funnest job." I would be coaching some twelve year olds, be a positive role model, and we can all talk about nail polish and boys and do homework together!
Turns out, I was the rebound coach--the coach who stepped in for their beloved ex-coach who *cough cough* yes, bailed. They hated me, they hated my rules, my cheers, my tactics, my ideas, my plans... the list continues to this day.
From being called a bitch, to mocked, to being ignored, and sometimes even yelled at-- I've had it all.
I kept fighting with myself, quit-don't quit-quit-don't quit. Welp, I stuck with it.
Now, today, the first day of something different I'll be teaching or tutoring, I can't help but hope they're all in my new class... Yes, even the girls who called me names and make me want to pull my hair out.
I want to see their wild eyes and dirty faces in my seats, eager to make fun of whatever weird lesson plan I have ready for the day. I want to hear their loud, loud voices yelling or "talking" in my class. I want to hear their excuses and demands. I want the four quiet ones and the ten crazies.
Today, when I walk into the boundaries of the school, there are a few things I'm already going to know, along with a lot more I'm going to have to learn.
I'm going to know that those fourteen girls are rough, not because of their language or clothing, but because they've been through it all--bad and good, but mostly bad. I'm going to know that those girls were mean, not because of hatred towards me, but fear. Who was I, to walk into their school and assume I was what these girls needed to succeed? And finally, I'm going to know that these girls are a family. Even though the love might not be bright and shining, it sure does flow through each of them and out to the other.
And yesterday, when I hugged them each goodbye and handed out awards, I knew that this team of mine didn't need me, I needed them.
And next time one of them gets on my last nerve, I'm going to have to come back and re-read this.