Hug me until I smell like you

As another school year begins in Noblesville, I found myself holding my daughters a little tighter before they walked through those school doors. It reminded me of a phrase I recently came across: “Hug me until I smell like you.” At first, it made me smile. Then it made me think.

Children don’t just carry backpacks into school. They carry pieces of home.

This year, I tucked a small note into each of my daughters’ backpacks. My tenth grader loves Nerds candy, so her note reminded her to “Stay a little nerdy – be smart, stay curious, ask questions, be brave enough to try new things, and always lead with kindness.” My fourth grader is all about Pop-Its, so her note encouraged her to “Pop into every day with your big smile. Pop with kindness. Pop with confidence. Have a pop-tastic fourth grade!”

The notes were simple, playful, and perfectly matched their personalities. But they carried a much bigger message: We love you exactly as you are. We hope you share your unique gifts with the world.

Those little notes may only last a few moments before finding their way into a desk or backpack pocket, but the feeling behind them lasts much longer. They become quiet reminders that someone believes in them, even when they’re navigating a challenging test, sitting with someone new at lunch, or wondering if they fit in.

As parents, we send more than school supplies through those classroom doors. We send our values.

Soon, those values begin to blend with the lessons children learn from teachers, classmates, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, and neighbors. They begin to “smell” a little like their community – not literally, but through the kindness they receive, the friendships they build, and the examples they witness every day.

Photo provided

That’s one of the things I love most about Noblesville. It has the #HeartoftheCommunity.

Our schools are filled with opportunities for children from different backgrounds to learn not only math and reading, but empathy, respect, and belonging. Every smile in the hallway, every encouraging teacher, every new friendship adds another ingredient to the recipe of community.

Through Taste of Community, I’ve discovered that every culture has comfort food, but every community also has comfort people – the ones who make us feel seen, welcomed, and valued. Schools do that every single day.

As this new school year begins, I hope every child carries a little bit of home with them while remaining open to discovering someone else’s story. Because when children are encouraged to be authentically themselves while embracing others, our entire community grows stronger.

So before the first bell rings, don’t rush that goodbye hug.

Hold them until they smell like you.

Then let them go – not just with a backpack full of supplies, but with hearts full of love, confidence, and the freedom to share their own unique joy with the world.

Pooja Thakkar is working to build cultural connections. You can read her column each week in the pages of The Reporter.