School Mom
Warning: This is a long, teacher-day related post. If knowing about the joys and stresses of being a teacher bother you, unfriend me now.
Today was one of those days where you want to rip your hair out one minute and the next minute you are holding back happy tears. One of my kiddos noticed I was having a rough afternoon, so she told me "Ms. Perry, I'm sharing a GoogleDoc with you." For many of my students, this is code for "I need to tell you something, but I'd rather type it so that my peers don't hear me say it out loud." So, I opened the document and was pleasantly surprised at the discussion that ensued. Below is a glimpse of what made me cry. (Edited for length, clarity and some spelling) Note: I'm also pretty honest with my kiddos. Making the jump from middle school to high school has added the ability for me to "get real" with my students about life after high school, something that many of my older students have told me they appreciate.
X: Are u oh okay
Me: Just a bit frustrated today. I’ll feel better soon. Thanks for checking up on me.
Me: You don’t think I have magical “everyone behaves themself” powers do you? I feel like everyone’s mother! I mean that in the sense that no one misbehaves around their moms, but when mom goes away, everyone starts acting like fools.
X: The teachers in this school is kinda my mom u and mrs. [co-teacher name omitted for anonymity] is to me.
Me: Aww, thanks! That really means a lot to me that you see us as your moms. We try our best to help you learn not only academic things like English and math, but how to get along with each other and treat people like human beings!
X: I love u and mrs. [co-teacher] sooo much. You all are pushing me to [graduate] next year I thank u a lot bc u teaching me how to be a [beautiful] young lady.
Me: Now you’re going to make me cry!!!!!!!
X: How?
Me: Because you make me feel as if I’m making a difference in someone's life!
X: YES u are in my life. That's why i thank u for [being] my teacher.
X: DO YOU FEEL BETTER NOW
Me: YES! Thank you!
X: YOU WELCOME SCHOOL MOM
Me: Just a bit frustrated today. I’ll feel better soon. Thanks for checking up on me.
Me: You don’t think I have magical “everyone behaves themself” powers do you? I feel like everyone’s mother! I mean that in the sense that no one misbehaves around their moms, but when mom goes away, everyone starts acting like fools.
X: The teachers in this school is kinda my mom u and mrs. [co-teacher name omitted for anonymity] is to me.
Me: Aww, thanks! That really means a lot to me that you see us as your moms. We try our best to help you learn not only academic things like English and math, but how to get along with each other and treat people like human beings!
X: I love u and mrs. [co-teacher] sooo much. You all are pushing me to [graduate] next year I thank u a lot bc u teaching me how to be a [beautiful] young lady.
Me: Now you’re going to make me cry!!!!!!!
X: How?
Me: Because you make me feel as if I’m making a difference in someone's life!
X: YES u are in my life. That's why i thank u for [being] my teacher.
X: DO YOU FEEL BETTER NOW
Me: YES! Thank you!
X: YOU WELCOME SCHOOL MOM
And it's days like this, moments like these, that make me proud to be a teacher.
Comments