Back To School

Here it comes ready or not!

We are in full back to school chaos at our house.  Thankfully, being married to a teacher, we can drive each other equally crazy while we run around acting as if it is the end of the Earth not just the end of summer. It's that time of year when it seams like we are squirrels getting ready to head into hibernation.  The to do list before the school year sets in seems to grow by two items for every one that gets checked off.  School turns into this ticking time bomb where a clean house, home cooked meals, and a good book are things that occur only in dreams.  

I have seen so many different people with blogs about the horrors of being a teacher and how no on will ever understand it.  I agree that none of us can fully understand another persons life, profession or family.  I grew up listening to some people that I respect very much as teachers complain about their lack of pay and no one understanding what it is like to be a teacher.  Now I am not about to defend that I love the pay checks we receive at our house each month (Especially in August, when they seem to disappear twice as fast from school supplies and lets not lie, the opportunity to actually enjoy lunch out with your colleagues) but I knew what I signed up for.  No one can say that when you became a teacher you thought you were going to become independently wealthy.  You may not have realized just how little you signed up for, but lets not beat a dead horse. What I want as a teacher is for you to respect me as a professional and take an interest in your own children or the children in our community and help me and my fellow teachers to shape these wonderful people into leaders we want to see in our future.  

As I mentioned before, I have read so many places and listened to so many people, business professionals, stay at home moms/dads, teachers, students, etc. say, "You just don't understand!" or "You don't know what it is like!" and to this I completely agree.  Can we stop playing a poor me game and think about others for a minute. The old saying goes, "Life isn't Fair" or "You can't compare apples to oranges" (whoever said these things is either a genius or parent that got sick of a whiny kid) but let's think about this.

I sure don't know what it is like to grow up in a house where you go to bed with an empty tummy.  I don't know what it is like to not go buy new school supplies.  I don't know what it is like to be abused.  I don't know what it is like to feel like I am crawling out of my skin all the time.  I have no idea what it is like to worry about taking care of younger siblings when your still a child yourself.  I also don't know what it is like to have to ask others to help feed or cloth my child.

I do know what it is like to get a hug from a child who really means it.  I do know what it feels like to cry for a child who can't help their situation. I do know what it is like to see a new friendship form in an unlikely place.  I do know what it is like to hear a sweet voice say thank you for the most basic things I take for granted.  I do know what it is like to be humbled when an 8 year old teaches me something new or dares to correct me. I do know what it is like to hear giggles from kids that are at least in that moment experiencing joy!  I do know what it is like to see a child glance over your direction to make sure you are celebrating their success with them.  I know what it is like to wear something shamefully hideous yet beautifully crafted. I do know what it is like to feel love.

So let's stop trying to make life a competition and figure out how to think "Win-Win" and love others as we are commanded to do.  We won't ever understand what it is like to be in another person's situation and thats fine.  Find the joy in your life and use your gifts in a positive way.

So to me back to school means:

I will see a little less of my family and friends, but I know they still love me and I still love them and our time together will mean even more.  I realize that my husband and I will question whether it is really necessary to buy this or that for our classroom as we peer into our dwindling account.  Unfortunately I will get really familiar with sandwiches, a cup of soup, or a questionable tray full of food that I devour in 10 minutes (even though I obviously have a 30 min lunch break).  I will have many more prayer requests and probably less gratitude and praise than I should.  My family will grow by 20 little faces (some smiling some grimacing). I will want to cry from a broken heart one minute and from laughing so hard at the child who just sang a little ditty about the "testies" we are about to take the next.   I will sleep really really good.  Coffee will be even more amazing! I will struggle to maintain a balance and sharpen my saw, but I will definitely give it my all. Back to school means I will count my blessings, appreciate all that I have and hope that I can share my love, knowledge and best efforts with my students, my family and my friends. And while yes it would be nice to make more money and hire a cleaning lady, I don't regret my choice to enter into this profession one bit.