When I found out I was going to have a baby, I had no idea how parenthood would change my outlook on not just life, but on being a teacher as well. Being a Mom definitely shapes my views on being a teacher.
Upon entering the classroom in August (after more than a year off), I suddenly realized I was looking at my students in a new way. They were no longer just little girls and boys who would come to me to learn every day for 10 month, they were now someone’s child whose future was in my hands. Not only would the children look to me for guidance, but the parents would turn to me as well. It’s funny that these thoughts had crossed my mind numerous times as a teacher, but I never felt them resonate in my heart.
The way I speak to my students has changed drastically. I have been known to raise my voice in the classroom – it was how I thought you got a child to listen. Now that I have my own little girl, I realize yelling isn’t the appropriate way to garner a child’s full attention. You speak with authority, but in a calm way. You must gain a child’s respect by showing he/she they can trust you. Be nice, but be firm, and always stick to a routine. Consistency is key.
Being both a Mom and a Teacher Changes How You Act with Students
My relationships with student’s parents have transformed completely. I suddenly understood why parents would obsess over their child’s progress with reading, or show up unannounced to talk about an incident that happened at school. Annabelle is only 15 months old and I am always asking for updates from her baby school teachers.
It’s easier to put myself in a parent’s shoes. I feel like I can relate with the Mom who worries about her son’s low self esteem or the Dad who would do anything to make sure his daughter has the best education possible. These parents were no longer “nagging” me when they called me or emailed me after school hours because I want to give them the time and respect I hope to receive from my daughter’s educators. I value the strong ties in regards to communication I have developed with my student’s parents.
Being a teacher has shaped my views on parenting.
Annabelle is both lucky and unlucky for having a Mom who is a teacher because I will always look at her education with a magnifying glass. Not to mention the fact that I will be reflecting a lot on myself.
Four years on the job and I’ve seen it all. I’ve seen helicopter parents and I’ve seen absent parents. There are children who come from strict homes and children who run the show. I’ve seen the effects of verbal and physical abuse on a child, as well as signs/effects of neglect. I’m also proud I’ve seen the effects of what love, care, and countless hugs can do for a child’s self esteem. I’ve seen how children are a product of their parents and it makes me want to be the best parent I can be.
Are you a Mom and a teacher? If so, how has it impacted your life?
I remember feeling the same exact way when I returned to teaching after having Lia. Being a mommy made me a better teacher and vice versa. 🙂
I was wondering how you felt since you returned to school so soon after Lia! I wonder if your feelings will change even more after you come back. I am thinking of how it will be going home for the summer and being with her for two months straight and then going back to work all over again too!
Growing up my mother moved up from being a teacher to retiring as a superintendent so I definitely know what that’s like. Funny enough, I am now a teacher myself and plan on having children within the next few years. Some days I look around my classroom and think oh know, who made me in charge of these little people and how the heck could I ever have one of my own?! But then there are those other days…the ones where a child has that lightbulb moment when something finally clicks for them, or the light up when you give them praise for something so small, or they run up to hug me for no reason…those days I think to myself…you know, maybe I could do this and wonder what it would be like being a mother…because really, I’m already practicing for it every single day.
Ahh, excuse my typo up there with know/no!
You are definitely practicing to be a Mom every day! I always say that one of the hats teachers wear is “Mom”!
I am not a teacher, but a secretary (athletics) at a high school…I LOVE my job because I get to work directly with the kids who, for the most part, apply themselves and hold themselves to a higher standard because they have a demanding schedule to keep with their school work and their sport.
What i have learned about parenting is what your child needs to know/be able to do by the time they get to HS. Another biggie (and i think that many parents of teens agree with me) is that the HS years are some of the most EMOTIONAL years of their life…even that quiet girl or the strong silent type boy…and their reaction to those emotions directly affect their friends, their choices, their activities, etc. i.e. Am I raising my girls to react correctly to their emotions when the time comes? And lastly, fortunately/unfortunately (not sure how my girls will like this) i am learning the tricks and schemes of a teen…those sneaky little suckers! *sorry, this one was a comment hog.*
Oh I can’t even imagine all the goodness I would learn from being around high school kids. All their tricks … you must know SO many!