I normally really like being a teacher, but there's one thing that is really tough. Even you non-teachers would have to agree with me on this one. If you have small children at home like I do, you can never really get away from you job. It's like a 24-7 job for which you get paid less than half the time you work!
Now, I'm not really complaining. I do love my boys. I also know that it doesn't matter if you teach or do any other job. If you have small kids, you've got to go home to them. But with other jobs, at least your children are a change of pace. I dream of the day when I can go home for some adult conversation with my wife without being constantly interrupted with tattles, screaming, and homework questions. To be able to get a drink, put my feet up, and read the paper without feeling guilty about not being a good dad.
Then I realize that what I've got IS short-lived. My kids are aging before my eyes and I don't even realize it. Someday I will have the time to do those other things and I will probably long for the "good 'ol days" when life wasn't so boring!
Isn't that human nature? The grass is always greener on the other side... until you get over there. There's always another fence and a different patch of grass. The question is... will you enjoy it when you get there? Or look back at what you once had, or even keep looking ahead to something that will probably never quite be what you expect?
I know what I've got to do... In the immortal words of a teaching colleague of mine: "Suck it up, Buttercup!". And a classic line from a classic song, "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams- "Ain't no use in complaining, When you got a job to do...". I know the job, now I've got to do it!
Come on dads, suck it up and do the job!
Till next time,
Kurt
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
How Time Flies!!!
As you might have seen in my profile, I am a teacher. I taught second grade for, I think, the first ten years of my career. The past five, I have been "looping", where I teach first grade for one year and then take the same students up through second grade.
You might be wondering where this is going... Well, I am sitting here on my lunch break, getting ready for about an hour from now when a student from my very first year of teaching will be coming in to do a two hour observation of my class because she is studying to be a teacher herself! I'm not sure if that makes me feel old... which I definitely am OLDER (39). I was just a pup out of college when I first started teaching at age 24 (I hope I didn't to any permanent damage to her and the others!).
But it will be very interesting to see her again and to find out what's been happening in her life for the past fifteen years... actually fourteen. She e-mailed me one day out of the blue, asking for the observation time. I still have an image of her up to about my waist, and showing me, everyday, her bubbly personality. I hope that hasn't changed! It just got me to thinking about how, when you are in a certain place in your life, you tend to think it will be that way forever. And while I knew I wouldn't have her as a student forever, I didn't really take the time to enjoy her when I had her.
Now she's coming back as a, gulp!, 22 year old young woman ready to head out into the world. I know she'll do well. But it's something a teacher very rarely gets to see: How a student turns out "in the end".
My thoughts are focusing on remembering this feeling with my own children. Some days are wonderful where everything goes great! Others frustrate me beyond comprehension. But such is parenthood. Even though I know my children will grow up one day, I sometimes live in the delusion that I always have "tomorrow" to fix a problem with my sons, when that isn't the case. I need to appreciate them everyday, the good and the bad. Someday, they too will be ready to head out into the world. I only hope I don't lose out on anything good due to my own shortsightedness while they are young!
Well, lunch is just about over, and I have lessons to get ready. Let me know if you have any thoughts on my ramblings!
Kurt
You might be wondering where this is going... Well, I am sitting here on my lunch break, getting ready for about an hour from now when a student from my very first year of teaching will be coming in to do a two hour observation of my class because she is studying to be a teacher herself! I'm not sure if that makes me feel old... which I definitely am OLDER (39). I was just a pup out of college when I first started teaching at age 24 (I hope I didn't to any permanent damage to her and the others!).
But it will be very interesting to see her again and to find out what's been happening in her life for the past fifteen years... actually fourteen. She e-mailed me one day out of the blue, asking for the observation time. I still have an image of her up to about my waist, and showing me, everyday, her bubbly personality. I hope that hasn't changed! It just got me to thinking about how, when you are in a certain place in your life, you tend to think it will be that way forever. And while I knew I wouldn't have her as a student forever, I didn't really take the time to enjoy her when I had her.
Now she's coming back as a, gulp!, 22 year old young woman ready to head out into the world. I know she'll do well. But it's something a teacher very rarely gets to see: How a student turns out "in the end".
My thoughts are focusing on remembering this feeling with my own children. Some days are wonderful where everything goes great! Others frustrate me beyond comprehension. But such is parenthood. Even though I know my children will grow up one day, I sometimes live in the delusion that I always have "tomorrow" to fix a problem with my sons, when that isn't the case. I need to appreciate them everyday, the good and the bad. Someday, they too will be ready to head out into the world. I only hope I don't lose out on anything good due to my own shortsightedness while they are young!
Well, lunch is just about over, and I have lessons to get ready. Let me know if you have any thoughts on my ramblings!
Kurt
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Something New
Hi Everyone,
Well, this is new to me. I've had the idea to "blog" for a while now, but never really got it off the ground. I want to do this for a couple of reasons:
First, to have a place to write about my life. Kind of like a journal. I suppose I could print my entries INTO a journal. Easier than pen and paper.
Second, to see if anyone else can relate.
I guarantee my posts won't be daily. Life is too busy as a dad!
But I will try to be semi-regular and write when I can. I'll bring up some topics and try to
shed some light as to how I feel about them. Remember, this is from a dad's perspective.
I'm sure many moms may feel differently.
Also, my posts won't all be about children. They'll be about life in general. Questions, insights,
perspectives that maybe would not have seen the light of day without this blog.
I'll post more about myself and some topics soon. Until then, have a great day!
Kurt
Well, this is new to me. I've had the idea to "blog" for a while now, but never really got it off the ground. I want to do this for a couple of reasons:
First, to have a place to write about my life. Kind of like a journal. I suppose I could print my entries INTO a journal. Easier than pen and paper.
Second, to see if anyone else can relate.
I guarantee my posts won't be daily. Life is too busy as a dad!
But I will try to be semi-regular and write when I can. I'll bring up some topics and try to
shed some light as to how I feel about them. Remember, this is from a dad's perspective.
I'm sure many moms may feel differently.
Also, my posts won't all be about children. They'll be about life in general. Questions, insights,
perspectives that maybe would not have seen the light of day without this blog.
I'll post more about myself and some topics soon. Until then, have a great day!
Kurt
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