Grateful they teach

I helped out in J's class at school today cutting, organizing piles and taking down math projects off of the walls. I quite liked the busy work today. The class was off to science so I had the room to myself. The door was propped open with a nice breeze coming in. The loud sounds of recess got me thinking. . .

"I can't stand all this noise! I'll take the noise at my house any day over this! How do the teachers do it? Do they feel like they're just babysitters? How do they stand the filth and the black hands, sweaty boys that smell like dogs, the screaming, the crying, the complaining and all the phrases that go with four square. I'm all too familiar with them. Like, "That's cheating! You can't do that! I got you out! etc."

Once upon a time I wanted to be a teacher. I come from a family of teachers. That's what we do. That's what they do. I say once upon a time because when I was at college, at the beginning of each semester in Institute and some other classes, the teacher or professor would have us introduce ourselves and say what we were going out in. It seemed as though all the girls were in Elementary Ed. It made me sick. I knew that I wanted to be a third grade teacher ever since Mrs. Jackson in third grade. I was sure that all the other girls that said they were in Elementary Ed. were just there in case they ever needed it, not really to become teachers. So, I was done with that. I dismissed the idea of being just another girl that wanted to be an elementary teacher.

I do have a tendency to be a little rebellious. :)

Through the years I have come to really appreciate my children's teachers. They love my children. They accept my children. They are good and encourage my children. They teach my children values and morals. They have my children just as much as I have them in a day. It takes a lot of trust to send my children to someone else when I'm trying so hard to teach them what kind of people I want them to become.

At Parent Teacher Conferences each year, I thank my children's teachers for that. Through the tears I express my gratitude for them. I think it speaks louder than any homemade crafts, lotion or gift cards that we could hand over the last day of school. It's a job that I chose not to do and quite possibly couldn't do.

Thank goodness for teachers. Thank goodness for their passion to teach and their desire to see their students learn. Thank goodness for their patience. Thank goodness they followed their dream to become elementary school teachers.

Teachers do a wonderful job. They are special people. They are influential and mentors to many. My life has been changed by some of my own teachers that saw good in me, encouraged me, had faith in me, and pushed me.

Tonight D had his first practice with little g's soccer team. He is a teacher. He made me smile. Let's just say, watching him coach was just as hot as watching him doing manual labor. He moved up the attractive meter a lot!! I may just have to wear my white vest for him. ;)