jauntwithus

20 years

2 schools on 2 continents

over 400 students from around the world

So blessed to have been a part of so many kids’ lives.

Teaching is like giving birth – it can be so difficult in the moment, maybe quite painful,  but then it’s all worth it, and you forget about the pain and difficulty. Then you go and voluntarily do it again, remembering only the good times!

Why is teaching painful and difficult sometimes? Because your heart and soul are poured out into each of your students, which is exhausting on so many levels. Because your mind is always working out how to meet each of their unique needs. Because your heart breaks at situations they deal with that you, and they, have no control over. Because sometimes you feel like your best wasn’t good enough. Because sometimes your role is referee or judge, and that’s just hard. And because we’re human – us, and them.

In the end you end up with sweet memories of:

• the successes, large ones and small ones
• funny remarks the kids made
• times you laughed together
• their growth as a reader, writer, & mathematician
• their creative and artsy projects
• how they socially blossomed
• the joy of seeing their critical thinking skills develop
• clearing up confusion for them and watching the “light bulb turn on”
• character growth as they apply character skills we learn about
• kids who love on each other and edify each other

As I end my twentieth year teaching, I choose to forget about the busyness, the demanding schedule and brain energy that’s always going into my job, and the burden of caring for the students on so many levels.

Instead, I choose to remember the sweet times, knowing I’ll do it over and over again for years to come.