May 7, 2021

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.



10 comments:

  1. That's so lovely. What a sweet gesture. Xx

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  2. I love it! Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to you!

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  3. Ahhh I love teacher appreciation week... 💕

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  4. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week and Happy Mother's Day. There is a special place in my heart for courageous moms who educate their own children at home. You have my admiration. Virtual hugs from UT.

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  5. Happy Teacher Appreciation week! My middle daughter has just finished college to become a teacher. The next step for her is student teaching and she's so excited to start!

    You've got a beautiful family. Happy Mother's Day!

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  6. Wishing you a beautiful Mother's Day my friend. smiles

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  7. Lovely flowers and lindor candy. I like those alot. So kind of we to do that. I'm so glad we homeschooled our 2 children years ago. My hubby helped me at times especially with math. Happy mother's day to you !! There's a delicious small cake in fridge my husband got me Friday that I hinted that I'd like. Sweet!😀

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  8. That was very sweet of them to show you their appreciation! Loved the flowers!! :) I loved this week when I was a teacher! Like you, I LOVED the job, and it just made it that much sweeter to be appreciated for my efforts. Happy teacher appreciation week to YOU!!!

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  9. How sweet. Happy Mother's Day!

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  10. This is the sweetest post ever! You truly do deserve to be appreciated and loved. Not everyone can do all you do.

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Thanks so much for saying hello!

Billie Jo