Break on through to the other side
This week I had parent/teacher conferences for both boys. Being an educator myself, it’s always a little weird for me to be on the “other side” of parent/teacher conversations. This week got me thinking about how my job influences my parenting, and how being a parent has influenced how I do my job.
I love any opportunity to visit their schools. It’s a familiar environment to me - it’s always interesting to see how some things are different but so much is the same from my day-to-day. I like to think that I notice things that some other visitors may miss. The crowd in the nurse’s office. Kids delivering stuff to the office. Teachers quickly walking with a stack of papers, hot off the press. Lines of kids walking to their specialists. Daily, I’m on the other side. A few years ago we had a guest speaker where I work - he described once being in a school where there was some kind of drama going on and his internal reaction was “woah - what’s happening? I’m a teacher too - let me help!” and I totally get that!
We love the school system where we live and we are thankful for it every day.
I think that being a teacher has helped me be a better parent. Sometimes. There are times that my patience for young people is starting to wear thin by the time I get home from work. Although now that I only teach at the high school level this has improved greatly. I notice there are times when other parents in my social circle are venting or making speculations - I try to offer what could potentially be the teacher’s perspective - “it’s possible the kids have the opportunity to do some of this homework in class! I’m going to ask my kiddo…” And I’ve found myself saying (more than once) “you should email the teacher” to get more information, as opposed to going straight to principals/superintendent. I can’t tell you how surprised some people are when I compare emailing the superintendent or principal to going directly to the CEO or manager instead of getting more information. Sometimes just a little clarification goes a long way! Of course, depending on the situation, there are times when an email to the principal is definitely in order - but sometimes a little clarification goes a long way. Kids aren’t always the most reliable sources - or they sometimes don’t see the whole picture!
Even more, however, I think being a parent has helped me to become a better teacher. Especially as my kids get closer to the ages of my students. I have a lot more perspective. I am more patient and less likely to make assumptions. I give off more “mom vibes” than I used to. I feel more clued into some of the struggles my students may be having outside of school and am more likely to offer them the benefit of the doubt. I’ve always been willing to offer them a friendly ear or a safe space to vent - but the way I process through what they’re saying with them is different after becoming a parent myself. And sometimes they just need an adult to say that everything is going to be alright.
