When I was pregnant with my daughter, I always fielded the same question. Will you go back to work? Much to some of their surprise, yes was always my answer. Then she was born with a congenital heart defect and a low immune system. Now when I responded with yes, I was often ask if I was sure. Once again, yes was always my answer.
Two years later, my son is born. I again was asked if I would be going back to work. In two years my answer has not changed! I will go back to work this August. Not only because financially we can’t afford for me not to work, but because I love my children.
I know what some of you are thinking! If she loves her children, why isn’t she staying home and raising them? Well, I spend my summers doing nothing but staying at home with them, but from August to May I gain a whole new set of children that I call my own.
You see, I teach preschool in our public school system and I truly believe God has called me to this journey of teaching. My job is to not only to teach the kiddos about their ABC’s, counting, colors, and shapes, but so much more! My job is to know these kiddos and what makes everything click for them individually. My job is to instill confidence and spark creativity. My job is to help them solve problems. My job is to help them become better friends. My job is to hug them when they miss their mom and dad. My job is to be a safe place. My job is to love them. My job involves me giving pieces of my heart to each kiddo and letting them keep it forever. I teach because they become my children.
Let’s just face the facts, no teacher teaches because of the pay (That’s a whole other subject for a later time!). If you asked most teachers how many kids they have, I am sure most of their answers would be in the twenties or more. As teachers, we have our own biological kids that we love and we have our class too! I always hope that my classroom parents understand how much I count their child as one of my own! I am also honored that they trust me with their kids everyday! And don’t get me wrong, I miss my two kiddos everyday while at work and wish they were there with me, but I rest easy knowing they are with someone who treats my kids as their kids.
So you see, I am not a stay-at-home mom by choice! I work because I love my children. I love all of them! And every May I tear up a bit saying goodbye and celebrating everything my preschool kiddos have accomplished over the past school year! I can only imagine what a blubbering mess I will be when my daughter and son reach the graduation point!