HOW DARE YOU?!!😒😪😠🧐

 Hello there, 

Glad to have you here ❤️

On my 30 something birthday, my beautiful niece Sarah, my little one Laila, and myself spent a wonderful day in Palo Alto, California. We toured Stanford University Campus (Cause that what nerdy families do for fun) and of course went to the mall close by (Cause that what Divas do). While we were enjoying a yummy lunch, my brain started wondering! Although I was enjoying my time, I started thinking of all that I was going through. I was visiting my family in California from Florida, where my life was not as clear as I wanted it to be. I looked at Sarah and asked her: " What do you see when you look at me?" I was not sure where I was going with this, I just meant generally! But her answer was strange to me! She said :"I see an elementary teacher". I thought that was weird and moved on with our day. 

Later that day I had a Skype interview with a private school in Tampa, Florida. The post I applied to was Business Administrator; at the end of the interview I was hired, yet! The interviewer insisted that I should consider teaching because I give the vibes of a teacher! Thought that was extremely weird especially after what Sarah said earlier. What? I am completely and utterly Honored. 

My first day as a teacher, I was terrified!! This is a HUGE responsibility. I cried way too many nights and days that first year. What if I did not do the right thing? What if I was not able to communicate well? What ifs? I was responsible of shaping little minds and personalities. I was that person they spent the WHOLE day for 9 months with, so whatever I say or do is being watched and learned. I have to be a role model. I think a lot of what Sarah said and that always makes me strong and boosts my confidence. I just have to believe it. 

I had a meeting with the Principal after I expressed my frustration, stress and fear. She said: " Shaima! every teacher thinks of quitting for at least the first 5 years of their lives. Even I resigned at least 5 times in my first year as a teacher. It is not easy, so what you are feeling is absolutely normal." That Principal and few teacher friends made my first year tolerable and memorable in a beautiful way. I will dedicate a post for the Teacher Friends; be patient. 

In the past few years, I met amazing teachers who became my very close friends and family. I went through so much these past four years and I only had them around me and always there for me. Again, a dedicated post in the future. So, this is what I have noticed from all our conversations. A Teacher is a person who thinks of students all day long in break and no break. Teachers think of their students after work and how they can improve the delivery of  their lessons. They go grocery shopping and definitely will buy snacks and supplies for their "Kiddos". During their fun times with their own families, they think of whether they can bring their students here for a field trip. While sleeping, teachers dream of all that happen in class and then some and wake up at dawn thinking of how to make this a wonderful day for their students. teachers worry about their students well being and get happy when their students do well and be well.  Thank god for Teacher Appreciation Week 😒

When I was a kid, I was taught to respect my teacher to the point that if your teacher is walking in the hall way you stop and step aside until your teacher passes. Unfortunately, this is not the case anymore. It is so normal that a teacher hears the student say :" HOW DARE YOU?" for receiving a low grade, or being sent to the Principal office or anything that they do not like. It is also so normal to have the parents say: " HOW DARE YOU?" for not accepting their child's ill behaviors and actually you take the time to genuinely discuss a concern with the parents. 

People forgot how this whole dynamic should look like. 

Before you get so upset with your child's teacher, think, have an open conversation with the teacher before the admins, treat the teacher the way the teacher treats you: with respect and understanding. This is the village that is raising your child. Be an active partner in this village, your child's teacher knows so much about what your child is living in school.  Actually, your kid's teacher knows your child very well  Remember, kids tell EVERYTHING that happens at home (if they love the teacher) so, that teacher is honoring your family life beyond what you can imagine.

SHOUT OUT  to the awesome parents that are always helping out and are present in their children school life ❤️❤️