Saturday, April 20, 2024
Sweet Mrs. Nicholls!!!
Where do I begin? If you know me now, you know I can talk to a brick wall. However, I was the complete opposite in the beginning. I cried every morning and wanted to go home. I think one of my very first memories is with Mrs. Nicholls. She sat me down on the steps out back leading to that awesome fire truck we played on, and the conversation went something like this:
“Why are you crying every day?”
To which I’m sure I responded I don’t know or I want to go home. I do remember telling her I didn’t want to sit on the top step because I was scared of monsters that might live in the dark. I’m sure she asked if anyone was hurting me or saying ugly things. I don’t remember all of that. What I do remember is the last thing she said in true firecracker fashion!
“Well you are gonna waste all your tears here and then you aren’t going to have any tears left if a monster comes!”
I also remember even though I was probably the tallest, I never had to sit up there again.
That worked! I never cried again. I remember her playing the piano for music and loving us.
She demonstrated a love of teaching and desire to make children thrive in happy environments that played a huge part in me getting my Early Childhood Degree and teaching for 22 years.
She will impact generations because of the seeds planted in all of us to love others, teach, be kind, and never stop learning.
Talladega lost one of the best! I will be praying for all of you and our community as we learn a world without knowing Mrs. Nicholls is with us!
Love,
Stephanie McKinnon Stephens
