Teachers Don't Cry

"Where do you work" 

"I'm a teacher"

"What grade do you teach?" 

"2nd" 

"Awww, that's a great age. Not too young but they still want to please you." 

"Yes, I love 2nd grade" 

This is a very typical conversation I have when I meet someone new. But there is really so much more I could say about teaching. It's not all about having summers off, leaving work at 3:30, and not working holidays. I am very grateful for these things, especially since I have a child of my own now, but that's not really what it's like. We pin and plan lesson ideas on our days off and there are several days when leaving at 3:30 is impossible. We work 8+ hour days, have a 15 minute lunch (if we're lucky) and we do not get paid for staying late. 

So why in the world do we do this!? 

Some come to us tired, bruised, and hungry. They haven't had a positive word said to them since they left school the day before. They haven't had a hot meal. They haven't had a bath. They haven't had a hug. They haven't seen a smile. It's our job to make sure they get all of these things in the 7 hours they are with us. Oh yeah, and they need to be able to pass all of their assessments and be on grade level. But that's ok because teachers like a challenge. So we teach them and we do it with a smile on our face. 

But after they have gone for the day sometimes our smiles fade and tears fall from our eyes. We worry about you. We hope you stay safe. Even if you drive us crazy we pray you are taken care of the way we take care of our own children. We love you. 

There are times when we feel like you might never get it, but then you surprise us by growing 3 reading levels, using manners in the lunch line, or passing your math test. It makes our hearts so happy. 

And when you aren't looking, we shed a tear or two. We are so proud of you. 

We watch you struggle and fail and we watch you strive and succeed. We watch you make bad choices and we watch you show compassion and sympathy towards a friend. We shed tears either way. 

We see the anxiety written all over your face before a test and we see the happiness you feel when you meet your goal. And once again we shed tears for you. 

Good or bad, pass or fail, clean or dirty, hungry or full, sweet or an absolute hot mess.... We shed tears for you. 

And as summer vacation quickly approaches, we will still have sleepless nights wondering if you are ok. We will miss you and we will be anxious to see you again next school year. And even as we dream about flip flops and ocean water on that last day, we will shed a tear because, believe it or not, we will miss you. ALL of you. 

This is why we really do what we do. We have one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. So even though our bank accounts might be low, our hearts are so full because we get paid with hugs and homemade cards. Thank you to all of the wonderful teachers that shed tears for their students everyday.