To the Parents of My Husband’s Students:

About this Entry
Posted by: twofus_1 Original: 10/23/2009 2:48 PM Views: 476 Comments: 12 eProps: 20 Read Comments Post a Comment Back to Your Xanga Site

Tags
life school

Who gave the eProps?
2 eProps from: qawzse789 yodertime amoshaun Becuz_of_Jesus ihavesix coffee_lady seekinHISwisdom lifeisadance Carsonsmom2 GratefulToGod

Read or Post Comments

Friday, October 23, 2009

To the Parents of My Husband’s Students:

When he leaves for work long before the sun rises, and when Saturdays and evenings mean time at school or algebra textbooks to study and tests to grade, I hope you realize how blessed you are to have a dedicated teacher.
While I bathe the boys and pack the bag each night so that we can be ready to go out the door as soon as Steve gets home and showers, I hope you are grateful for the extra hours he spends tutoring your child after school.
When I listen to hours of talk about football, debates, and ideas, I hope you value a teacher who relates with your child on his level.
When our evening discussions center around problem-solving, teaching strategies, and behavior modification, I hope you appreciate how much energy is poured into many levels of your child’s growth.
When my husband comes home exhausted physically and emotionally with less stamina for dealing with an emotional wife and an energetic son, I really, really hope you appreciate how much of his life is given to your teenager.
When we cut social events short or skip them altogether, I hope you recognize the cheerful and calm atmosphere in the classroom.
When I stay at home with the boys during board meetings and teacher-parent interactions, have supper interrupted with a phone call about assignments, wait after church while you discuss progress, or get our family ready in time to arrive early for events, I hope you appreciate the wisdom and dedication that is being channeled.

When our shopping trips include stops at the library, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and the teacher supply store, and when extra time is spent picking up trash, dust mopping the gym, and cleaning up after the last group to use the school house, I hope you care that the small details have been well attended to.
When you wonder if you're making any progress, I hope you also know that your student has another adult who loves him and prays for him.

I really can't even write this without saying that we've been terribly spoiled by the parents of Steve's students. I know they do appreciate the work he does...of, course we always love to hear those words.

This week Steve's dad is having revival meetings at Cold Springs. Both of his parents are here. They're actually staying at a guest house just down the road since we don't have a second bed. But we've been together some throughout the week. We've been lucky enough to be invited for meals with them, so I've gotten a week nearly free from cooking! Zachary LOVES having them around and also likes the tour of toys. He's always excited about finding out what toys the next house has. :)

This week has been pretty exhausting. It's the last week of the quarter at school and Steve has been putting in l-o-n-g days. He gets home and showers and we leave for supper. He's been at all the meetings except for last night's. Several girls from our church offered to babysit children 3 years old and younger during the services. It has been a lifesaver for us. Zachary has been too excited to sleep some days, and he is often red-eyed and hyper. I'm just so glad we don't have to keep him quiet during church, yet.

Gotta run...

Posted 10/23/2009 2:48 PM - 476 Views - 20 eProps - 12 comments

recommend
recs0
share
email
sent0

Give eProps or Post a Comment

12 Comments

Good post! Since Todd isn't teaching anymore it is easy for me to forget all that goes into the lives of a teacher's family. Never thought that would be possible. So glad you find it fulfiilling and the parents supportive.. it makes a WORLD of difference.

Never heard of girls babysitting during revivals! I like that idea.. might have to suggest it sometime. Have a good weekend! kg

Posted 10/23/2009 3:04 PM by

qawzse789 - reply

Sounds like a teachers life is full. And you forgot to add how much the teachers life is influenced by his understanding and supportive wife. Kudos to you Christy for the time and energy you invest in your husbands ministry as a teacher. You will be rewarded:).

Posted 10/23/2009 3:18 PM by yodertime

- reply

I think it is awesome that Steve has such a heart for his students. And even if they are grateful, it doesn't hurt for someone to be reminded of what goes on behind the scenes. I certainly appreciate the teachers that my kids have had so far...and maybe I haven't told them that often enough, now that I think of it.

Posted 10/23/2009 3:42 PM by

appalolly - reply

Your post makes me feel guilty for the times that I am upset with Amos when he comes home from school tired and drained. Teachers give a lot. And yes, their giving does affect thier wives and families. May you be sustained as you allow your husband to give deeply of himself in this way!

Posted 10/23/2009 4:18 PM by amoshaun - reply

Oh Christy! I had to cry when I read this! So, so true! I could identify with almost every single one!! Yes, Jason's been teaching for 10 years and now administrator this year. I think most parents know, but some have said to me, "It must be so nice to have him done at 3:00 and home" I think some parents don't have a clue.
Another one I would add is "Do you realize how blessed you are when your children's teacher spends hours writing a better curriculum for the Church History class because nothing out there really supports our Anabaptist views. You are blessed to have a teacher who cares a lot about what your students learn."

Blessings Christy and fellow laborer! :coolman:

Posted 10/23/2009 4:53 PM by Becuz_of_Jesus - reply

Thanks sooo much for the reminder! We are blessed with wonderful teachers at Faith Builders and I need to do better at telling them that!

Posted 10/23/2009 6:24 PM by ihavesix - reply

@qawzse789 -

I think of you so often because you were in my shoes when I was in high school. I think admiringly of allllll the time you were at school.

@yodertime -

@amoshaun -

Well, maybe I was kind of whining about all the sacrifices I feel I'm making. :lookaround:

@appalolly -

Yeah, it's not too often a teacher hears affirmation more than they can handle. :lol: Often we have to think that silence means consent.

@Becuz_of_Jesus -

Yeah, or the time they spend scoping out better curriculum, etc. (And way to go, Jason, on writing curriculum; that's awesome!) I knew you would identify with this, too. "So do you often go eat lunch with Jason?" :lol: Or don't people ask you that all the time?

Posted 10/23/2009 11:16 PM by twofus_1 - reply

Sometime, do you mind posting some ideas of things we parents can do to show our appreciation for the teachers? I would love to have a list of ideas~ God bless teachers and their wives!

Posted 10/24/2009 5:24 AM by coffee_lady - reply

Sounds like a busy life, but a good life. It's good for each of us to get a glimpse into each others lives, I know now I am not the only women spending many evenings alone....while my husband is out making other folks happy (so we can get paid) :rolleyes: Each job as it's downside. :wha:

A week of no cooking sounds like something I might enjoy. :wink:

Have a wonderful weekend!

Posted 10/24/2009 6:42 PM by seekinHISwisdom - reply

Oh Christy, I remember those days! Ben only taught two years, but I could identify with so much of what you wrote! I didn't expect school teaching to be such an *emotional* job - where it feels like you eat, sleep, and breathe school, even when you're not there! I have a whole new appreciation for teachers after our experience there. I think it's a good thing. :) And many, many blessings and much grace to you as the teacher's wife... Much more could be said about that, but I bless you for your support of your husband and making him a great man in the eyes of his students! Hope your weekend is a bit more restful than your week... :)

Posted 10/24/2009 7:05 PM by lifeisadance - reply

Hmmm, I think I just discovered that we're more alike than I knew. Except for us, it's eating, breathing, sleeping 'church'....maybe we could meet at the coffee shop next time Steve will be home late. Paul will prob. be on the phone at the same time. :rolleyes:

Posted 10/25/2009 4:19 PM by Carsonsmom2 - reply

Well, I'm not married to a teacher, nor do I even have any kids in school. I do have family members who are or were teachers and many friends who teach so I have a lot of respect and appreciation and empathy for them. Thanks for the very good reminder of just what all a teacher does! You said it well and it re-inspired me to support the teachers that I know.

Posted 10/26/2009 2:37 PM by GratefulToGod - reply

Choose Identity

Xanga Network

Anonymous (Sign up for free!)