I made a mistake today, I broke up with a student :/

So a little background here, I have been a teacher for 8 years, I started when I was 21 and I’m 29 now. I teach in what most would consider a low income, low performing school. Many students come from broken homes or single parent homes. As an adult, I can tell who is the most neglected and who is treated the worst. Many parents don’t even care enough to sign report cards or progress reports, I have had students tell me in confidence they don’t have enough food when they go home, some come to school smelling bad from dirty clothes or eating food out of the trash. I have had a student, ( we’ll call him D) that has been at our school since he was a middle schooler. D is funny and a trouble maker at heart but he’s so sweet. I always try to keep his behavior in line but also nurture his creativity and humor. He loves me, and I reciprocate that love. <br><br>D went into high school and I still got to see him often, because he’s on the list for kids who need breakfast, so I give him food. Most often he would come in the morning before class to see me some mornings. Throughout his high school career he would open up to me about his home and what goes on there. He always had his sister but that’s about it. His mom was never around much, always drunk or high and just slept all day. D had to fend for himself a lot, always came to school dirty, smelly, hungry and tired bc home life was rough. One day he told us he had to live w his grandma but that was okay bc he got 3 meals a day. <br><br>Fast forward he graduates, he’s so proud, we’re all proud of him. We had a senior breakfast where I got to talk to him about college and things he wants to do, he told me he likes to come to school some days because he gets to see people he cares about. He also told me his mom lives in the house with him, but he’s not allowed to have guests and if he does she’ll kick him and his sis out and he’s still responsible for paying rent. <br><br>After graduation I didn’t see him for a while bc he started working. He would come back and visit sometimes, but I only saw him maybe once a month. It’s okay tho bc I’m glad he’s busy. <br><br>Welp, yesterday he shows up, he’s so excited and proud of himself. I ask him why and he tells me he saved enough money to buy a car. It’s an old car but I’m proud of him too. He’s driving it today so he wants to show me but we have to walk outside the school. I didn’t think this was a big deal bc it’s the middle of the day and we were just walking to the car but his sister was there as well. So, I walk w them to the car, he shows me the car and I give him a quick hug and tell him he’s doing great. <br><br>Well, today I got a visit from the principal and she told me someone saw me hugging a former student and reported it. I told her what happened and she said that’s okay, just be wary of what you do in public bc it looks bad. Some teachers heard bc I guess the principal talked to them first and they are giving me the stink eye and treating me cold. Even some teachers I really like and they’re disappointed in me. I don’t even see D often anymore, so it sucks that my reputation is tarnished bc I was proud of him and gave him a hug. I just wanted to vent, I love this job and I love the kids and I feel like I broke up with what was familiar and I’m sad about it.