A Letter To My Students’ Parents

To My Sixth Grade Students’ Parents: 

As yet another (glorious) summer concludes, I feel led to confess: I am not the teacher I once was. That is probably fairly obvious though. The dark circles under my eyes and the spit up stain on my shoulder are both dead giveaways: I am a new mom. My husband and I welcomed our first baby this past March. Sweet (and already somewhat spunky) little Amelia has turned our worlds upside down, and we are totally and completely in love. My five-month long maternity leave spent cuddling my baby, singing The Itsy Bitsy Spider, watching in amazement as my once completely dependent newborn has discovered her hands and feet, and, in full disclosure, DREADING the day I would return to work.

I know that is probably the last thing you want your child’s teacher to admit, but hear me out. I was not dreading the start of another school year because I don’t love teaching (I do!), but because it broke my heart to imagine all of the Amelia-time I would miss as I scurry around trying to fit in all the pieces of my life. Seriously, how do working moms do it? Between long work days, keeping some food in the fridge and copious amounts of dirt off the floor, piles of laundry, maintaining relationships, going to the gym (or attempting to anyway), and the million other things moms do, where is the time to really enjoy your kids?

When the day came to drop Amelia off at her daycare center for the first time, worry and doubts tied my stomach in knots. How would she spend her days? Would she be in an infant seat all day, or would her teachers cuddle her and play with her? Would her daycare teachers notice the subtle growth she makes each and every day? Would they enjoy her baby sense of humor? Would they just run through the long list of baby care tasks, or would they really take time to enjoy her? If Amelia were having a cranky day, would they have the patience to cuddle her and help her through it?

Fortunately, after a few days of daycare, I feel Amelia is in wonderful hands at our center. In preparation of the first week of school, I have been creating bulletin boards, labeling dozens of items, organizing classroom supplies, and brainstorming how I can improve my teaching from last year. However, instead of putting in twelve-hour days for the whole week before school, I have been dashing out at the end of my contract day because I have a baby waiting for me, and I intend to make the most of each moment I have with her.

So, it’s true, I’m not the teacher I once was. I don’t have free evenings to dedicate to lesson planning and correcting, but what I do have I think is more important: insight into what really matters. Since Amelia entered our lives, I have been keenly aware of how quickly time passes. I know she will only be will be five (and six and seven and eight and…) months once, and that the baby she is today will seem like a distant memory in a few weeks. Similarly, I know your child will only be eleven and twelve years old once, and I don’t take lightly my responsibility to play a significant role in making his or her year joyful, meaningful and productive.

As I greet you and your child on welcome-back night, I’m sure you have questions of me, just like I had of Amelia’s daycare teachers. Here are my answers:

I truly will enjoy your child! Building relationships and getting to know the strengths, quirks, and personalities of each of my students are the main reasons I love my job! Watching your child learn, interact with friends, challenge himself or herself, support a classmate, or share his or her pre-adolescent humor brightens each day for me.

I will work to make the most of each moment at school. The school year passes so quickly, and I feel the pressure to teach your child what he or she needs to know to have success in junior high and in adult life. I plan lessons carefully to be sure the activities and objectives are meaningful and teach your child to think and problem solve. Beyond academics, I plan to fill your child’s day with opportunities to collaborate, socialize and have fun.

I will celebrate your child’s wins. Learning takes courage! Your child is asked to take risks every day by working something that is difficult for him or her, and when the hard work pays off, I notice!

One off day (or week) will not cause me to change my opinion of your child. I know your child’s behavior is impacted by a variety of factors, some which can be controlled and others that cannot (hello, hormones!), and I take pleasure in helping them navigate rough waters.

While teaching has been my passion that consumed countless hours above and beyond my forty-hour workweek for the past five years, that passion now has competition: my little Amelia. At the end of my workday, Amelia will always prevail, but while I am at school, know that I am working furiously to help your child grow, and that I am enjoying every second of it. I am honored to be your child’s teacher this year!

Mrs. Gray

P.S. If your child reports that I have stinky coffee breath, he or she is probably correct. Something has to fuel me and for the time being, it definitely isn’t sleep! I’ll keep some breath mints in my desk.