Summer can feel like an eternity, especially when you’re wrangling kids. Why can’t school just run all year round?
For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been working from home while my energetic 5-year-old and 6-month-old engage in a chaotic mix of giggles, schemes, and occasional meltdowns (not all of those apply to both, thankfully). We’ve taken a few trips, which can be more stressful than enjoyable with little ones, and the dilemma of summer camp has crossed our minds — but finding the right fit isn’t always straightforward.
The absence of structure during a summer without camp or school can be a nightmare for both kids and parents, especially when you’re trying to accomplish even the tiniest tasks. It’s a challenge to get anything done when the kids are constantly underfoot, and that includes basic activities like using the bathroom or simply enjoying a moment of quiet.
Kids are a handful, and bored kids are even tougher to handle. Seriously, why aren’t teachers earning more for this?
Entertaining a 5-year-old isn’t easy, especially if you want to avoid feeling guilty (like starting a non-stop Marvel movie marathon that stretches for weeks) or breaking the bank (hello, expensive summer camps). I genuinely admire teachers and wish they could take over right now.
After just a week of this chaos, my respect for my kids’ teachers has skyrocketed — and that’s putting it mildly. I might even sculpt a cheese masterpiece for my son’s new teacher on his first day of school. If she asks me to eat it, I’d do it without hesitation, just so she can have him for eight hours a day for the next nine months.
Most of us know teachers, whether from our own school days or through friends and family. I have a brother, Sam, who teaches, and while he’s quite patient, I sometimes wonder if he’s been hit by a patience meteor. I can barely manage my own kids on a good day!
Teachers are nothing short of superheroes. Honestly, I’d think so even if they merely supervised my kids while they watched TV in a corner for 180 days a year — as long as they were doing it instead of me. But thank goodness they do so much more.
In their early years, teachers care for our kids as if they were their own. They look after them, play with them, and read to them. As they grow older, they mentor them, teaching academics and social skills. They encourage, discipline, and guide them through so much.
Of course, there are some bad apples — cranky and disenchanted educators exist in every field. But truly, it’s remarkable that there aren’t more teachers who feel disillusioned. Most of us can recall that one special teacher who inspired us, the one who changed our lives for the better. Yet, every teacher deserves acknowledgment — even the ones who may seem less enthusiastic.
If you want to homeschool, go for it. But I’m more than happy to hand my kids over to folks who have chosen to devote their lives to educating and managing the chaos that is childhood.
Thank goodness for teachers!
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Summary:
This humorous reflection on summer parenting highlights the chaos of home life with young children and the immense respect for teachers who handle the challenges of educating and nurturing kids. The author expresses gratitude for teachers and acknowledges their critical role in shaping children’s lives.