Smiles , Thank yous, and Dollar Bills

I don't know about you, but other parents often comment on how polite and thoughtful one of my boys is. Of course, a part of me is thrilled, but the other part of me is skeptical. Really? Are you sure you are talking about my child? The same child who yelled at his brother for eating the last gummy bear? The same child who leaves his cereal bowl on the table expecting me to pick it up? The same child who tortures me by forcing to listen to the awful noise he calls music while I drive him home from school? Well, after teaching for twenty-three years, I get it! Kids are different at school than they are at home. When I tell people I teach middle school, a look of terror or pity comes over their faces. ¨Wow! You're brave!¨ I always laugh and tell them that I am the luckiest person in the world; I have a job I love. My students make me laugh every single day. They make my heart grow every single day. On the whole the students I see on a daily basis are kind. They care about others, they want to do well, and they want to please those that are important to them. They give me faith that this world is not so bad after all. Are they perfect? Of course not! However, I am not either!
Each day when the bell rings, and the students are walking out my door I hear countless thank yous and goodbyes. It is truly remarkable. I have often thought, ¨I wish their parents hear them. They would be so proud!¨ Last week a friend gave me a money tree plant. At the beginning of class, I shared it with my second period and joked that, ¨Maybe if I touch it enough, it will bring me money.¨
After class, I walked by the plant and saw that one of my students had strategically placed a dollar bill among the leaves of the plant. I got a good laugh out of that!
Anyhow, thank you for sharing your child with me each day. I am looking forward to another year of learning and laughter!

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