December at Parker
Purple Roller Skates and a Golden Bunny
Earlier this month, I found myself sitting on the floor of my office, deeply engrossed in a Magna-Tiles construction project with a four-year-old who was having a tough time settling that day. Mid-build, she paused, surveyed our work seriously, and asked if we could also make a house for my teeny ties – the tiny stuffed animals who live on my office windowsill.
Of course we could. So we happily got to work.
This is one of her favorite activities, and one I secretly look forward to every time she visits. She works with complete focus, blissfully unaware of time or place, fully absorbed in creating the perfect habitat for her tiny clients. Once the house was finished (solid construction, good attention to detail, excellent light), we moved on to chatting. I asked her what she wanted for Christmas.
Her answer was immediate and unwavering: purple roller skates and a golden bunny.
No hesitation. No explanation. Just pure certainty and delight – the beautiful assumption that the world is full of possibility. No iPad. No electronics. Just a perfectly old-fashioned, magical golden bunny… and purple roller skates (which, honestly, I can’t stop picturing – she would be adorable).
That declaration stayed with me all day. In many ways, it felt like the perfect snapshot of December at Parker: joy, wonder, and innocent wishes spoken clearly and confidently into the world.
That same spirit showed up earlier that morning during our Peace Assembly, when children stood bravely in front of a full room to share songs and words about kindness, hope, wishes, and peace. These moments aren’t just performances; they’re practice. Practice in courage, perseverance, and community.
It appeared again in quieter (and sillier) ways during our week of Snow Friends (our faculty version of Secret Santa) when colleagues surprised one another with notes, small gestures, and often wonderfully elaborate and ridiculous gifts. It was a gentle reminder that adults, too, thrive on thoughtfulness, connection, and a little fun.
December in a school is both busy and magical, messy and meaningful all at once. There’s stress and exhaustion as children and adults fight off illness, finish projects, host events, and rush to share their work with authentic audiences.
And still, the month invites us to slow down. To notice. To be grateful. Skating on the pond, sledding at recess, and gathering for celebratory lunches remind us to stay present – to hold onto moments of innocence and sincerity in a world that often rushes past them.
I am deeply grateful for a school that allows me to pause in the middle of a full day. To sit on the floor. To build and play. To listen closely as a child shares her very clear hopes for purple roller skates and a golden bunny. That time, so full of wonder, trust, and joy, feels like a gift in itself, and one I never take for granted.
As the year comes to a close, may we all carry a bit of that clarity and delight with us into whatever comes next. And I wish each of you your own version of purple roller skates and a golden bunny this holiday season. 💜🐰