Accepting Appreciation

 

With some help from our superintendent ~aka Daddy~, my number one student Flynn surprised me with beautiful flowers, chocolate, and the most perfect homemade card for Teacher Appreciation Week! I could not have been more surprised. First of all, because I had no idea it is Teacher Appreciation Week. And also, because honestly, I never think about what I do as something that needs to be appreciated.

I love teaching. Long before I became a mom, I worked at a child development center on my college campus. I led circle time with three and four-year-olds, supervised playtime, and spent hours pushing little ones on swings. I loved it. Loved. I was blessed to secure a job right after graduation as a second-grade teacher and spent five wonderful years teaching vowel sounds and multiplication facts to sweet seven and eight-year-olds. I loved it. 

The best moments I have had teaching, however, remain the simple moments at home. I taught four little blessings how to walk and use a spoon, and tie shoes. I spent hours on a Noah's Ark blanket on the floor, helping little hands fit red plastic cubes into a yellow bucket. Eventually, I became a homeschool mom, teaching everything from preschool to advanced math at desks in my dining room. Three of my children graduated high school and are successfully working in fields they love. I am blessed to have one remaining student that enjoys our time together at the kitchen table studying ancient civilizations and Shakespeare. 

When she surprised me with the card, flowers, and candy, my first instinct was to say that she didn't have to thank me! She and Steve didn't need to be appreciative of me! This is what I do. I teach. And I love doing it! Sometimes it is hard to accept thanks and compliments. But something Steve has encouraged me to do is just that. Allow others to express appreciation and thankfulness. Validate their feelings. Accept praise. And eat the chocolate. 

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to all the teachers out there.

And also, Happy and Blessed Mother's Day to all mothers, those waiting to be, those wishing to be, and those praying to be. Happy Mother's Day to all the aunts and friends, and neighbors who love our children as their own. May we love and shower appreciation on them this weekend, as we honor the mothers and grandmothers who have gone on before us. Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!  Thanks for visiting. I am always happy you do.