I was getting ready to blog today because I know you've all missed me and realized I didn't really have a lot to blog about. Sure I could tell you about our trip to Disney and how we drove 21 hours. I could tell you how we were driving through Nashville and my husband told my daughter that Taylor Swift lived there and she was snotty to him so I said "We are never, ever, ever driving on vacation again." Or I could tell you how the dog had something 8 inches long hanging from her butt yesterday and I almost puked. Luckily, my son spotted it before she came in the house. He dry heaved a few times but closed the door in time to keep her out. I'm pretty sure it was part of her intestines that are now somewhere in the front yard. She seems fine though so I won't blog about that.
I scrolled through some old blogs and saw the one I wrote last May about the start of summer. I would write about summer again but it would be the same thing so just go back and read that one. I decided that since I'm cry babying about entertaining my kids for a brief 80+ days, I'd instead write about the people who have had to spend the past 1300+ hours with these kids....the teachers! For my teacher friends who are now scared that I'm going to spill the beans on some funny story about you - don't fret. This post is all about thankfulness.
I'm thankful that my kids have had amazing teachers so far. I have loved every single one of them. Because let's face it, my kids have some quirks. From my daughter puking every day until 2nd grade to my son's stories and his know it all attitude...our teachers have had their work cut out for them.
Back when I was in college, my major was Elementary Education. I didn't get my degree in that because I think God knew I would end up in jail. Now when I help out on field trips or class parties, I know I could never do it. I spend a lot of time at our school as a volunteer and have witnessed our amazing teachers in action. I love that I can go for the "fun" parts and then leave.
Teachers are not only shaping the minds of our children, they are doing so much more. They are teaching, disciplining, loving, nurturing, and so on. And those are the good things! They are also dealing with the crazies...yes...the parents! They are buying supplies for the kids that don't have any. They are running home over lunch to get a blue t-shirt for the girl who forgot to wear her's for spirit day. They are spending their own money to make our Mother's Day gifts! They are dealing with every snotty nose in the class and the kid who doesn't cover his mouth. They are teaching the kid who pees his pants. They are hugging the kid that annoys them. They are dealing with HEAD LICE! That right there is a deal breaker for me! They give and expect nothing back.
They have students they love that become their "own kids" for those 1300+ hours every year. They give them the hugs they need when we aren't there and they are having a bad day. They wipe away their tears when they fall on the play ground. And that kid that your son or daughter comes home complaining about, yeah - they are dealing with that little punk too. This is all in addition to teaching your child everything.
I know I could never home school my children. I'm thankful that we have amazing teachers to handle that large task for me. I love that my kids have the social interactions they need. I love that I can send them to that big brick building for 1300+ hours every year and know that they are in a happy and loving environment. I love that our community is fortunate enough to have such a wonderful school district and that I can be a part of it as a parent.
So as summer break starts today, I won't complain about how my kids are driving me crazy already. I won't post about the drama of taking two to the store with me and being rammed in the back of the ankles with tomato cages my son insisted on carrying. I won't talk about the dressing room episode at Target with my daughter who wanted short shorts. Instead, I will cherish these next 80+ days with my kids before I send them off to meet their next teacher. I'll wonder all summer about who they will have next year because let's face it, it matters more to me than them. When they start to act bratty, I'll think of the teachers that have to endure even brattier kids on a daily basis from August until May.
When you see a teacher out this summer with a huge smile on his/her face, tell them thank you. Because even though your kids are home with you, they are already planning for the next school year.
