Reality check: Teaching is exhausting. It's not one of those jobs that end at a designated time every day. Not even a Monday through Friday gig. When you go home, your work follows you. In fact, I don't think you can ever really catch-up and not have anything to do. An endless to-do list.
That doesn't even include all of the daily hurdles of teaching concepts, grading, lesson planning, copying, organizing, disciplining, dealing with problems, progress monitoring, a thousand questions daily to answer, social aspects, behavioral issues, differentiating, germ cleaning, feeding, parent contacts, and testing.
Educators are SO much more than just "teachers"...
Okay, that was sort of heavy. But my point is, you never really understand how stressful, busy, and exhausting teaching can be until you've been in those shoes. When I chose this career field, I don't think I truly understood the depth teaching and all of the different aspects in includes. Even now, I'm still figuring it all out. I really look up to those of you who have been teaching for years and years and have kept your passion alive.
This past weekend, someone asked me what I did for a living, and I told them teach. Their reply was something along the lines of, "Oh, so you play with kids all day and color?"
Silence. *crickets chirping*
I couldn't even respond. Teaching is so much more, and I'm blessed to be a part of it. But more important than that? I am so thankful for those wonderful teachers I've had in the past who have helped me become the person (and teacher) I am becoming myself, and I'm thankful for those wonderful mentors I have in my life right now. I'm hoping that someday I can be half the teachers they are.
Just food for thought.
Emily :)
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