Dear Teacher,
Tonight, my little girl gets to meet you. She is excited and maybe a little nervous. I am excited and definitely a lot nervous. I don't intend on sharing this letter with you...it's more of a way for this worried mama to express my jumbled thoughts.
I know I don't need to tell you that you are going to be teaching one of my most precious "possessions.". I know you will love her. I am well aware you didn't get into teaching for the money or your summers "off.".
Here's what I do want to say:
Thank you! I know there will be days that you will come into my girl's classroom with then weight of the world on your shoulders. Other days, you will just be plain tired. Yet, I know you will greet each student with a smile (even the one that you really wish was absent that day.)
If you ever find yourself wishing my child is the one who is absent, please tell me. I know she asks A LOT of questions. She is inquisitive to a fault. I get it. I also know she can be a bit stubborn and thinks she is a boss. Her dad and I are working with her on the stubbornness and bossiness, but if we need to do more, please let us know. We are in this together.
Though she has her faults, she is truly amazing. I may be a bit biased, but not about her awesomeness. She is kind and compassionate. She is a born leader. She LOVES to help. She believes in Jesus and will talk about Him. She adores her infant brother. Her four-year-old brother is her best friend and she has been with him almost 24/7 for the last three years. She is daddy's little girl and mommy's sidekick. She is social. She already cares about you. She prays for you. You will adore her.
Even so, we know that at times, we will have to watch her fail. We will encourage her to try again. We know you will do the same. We know that when she fails, her success will be even sweeter. She is a determined little girl...she will turn her failures into triumphs. We will all be there to cheer her on.
When she cries, it is absolutely OK to hug her. When she is dramatic, it's OK to turn your head and roll your eyes. If she forgets to be a friend, it's OK to remind her to be one. If she is nervous, it's OK to pat her hand and even whisper a quick prayer to her or to yourself. If she doesn't remember her manners, it's OK to tell her to use them. If she tells you that she loves you, it's OK to say it back.
She will say that to you. As I typed that sentence, tears rolled down my cheeks. It is so difficult to let her go: to let her spread her wings and open the door to new opportunities and to people that I do not know. I am comforted to know that you will be there with her. You are not her teacher by happenstance. I have prayed for you for years and God placed you into her life because He knows you will nurture her and love her.
So, thank you for loving her well. For the memories you will create with her. For the lessons you have planned for her. For the look of assurance that you will give this nervous mommy when I drop my girl off and place her in your care for 6 and a half hours a day. She is going to do great, because you are great.
Sincerely,
Princess Addi's Mommy (Yes, she thinks she is a real princess...she is)
Tonight, my little girl gets to meet you. She is excited and maybe a little nervous. I am excited and definitely a lot nervous. I don't intend on sharing this letter with you...it's more of a way for this worried mama to express my jumbled thoughts.
I know I don't need to tell you that you are going to be teaching one of my most precious "possessions.". I know you will love her. I am well aware you didn't get into teaching for the money or your summers "off.".
Here's what I do want to say:
Thank you! I know there will be days that you will come into my girl's classroom with then weight of the world on your shoulders. Other days, you will just be plain tired. Yet, I know you will greet each student with a smile (even the one that you really wish was absent that day.)
If you ever find yourself wishing my child is the one who is absent, please tell me. I know she asks A LOT of questions. She is inquisitive to a fault. I get it. I also know she can be a bit stubborn and thinks she is a boss. Her dad and I are working with her on the stubbornness and bossiness, but if we need to do more, please let us know. We are in this together.
Though she has her faults, she is truly amazing. I may be a bit biased, but not about her awesomeness. She is kind and compassionate. She is a born leader. She LOVES to help. She believes in Jesus and will talk about Him. She adores her infant brother. Her four-year-old brother is her best friend and she has been with him almost 24/7 for the last three years. She is daddy's little girl and mommy's sidekick. She is social. She already cares about you. She prays for you. You will adore her.
Even so, we know that at times, we will have to watch her fail. We will encourage her to try again. We know you will do the same. We know that when she fails, her success will be even sweeter. She is a determined little girl...she will turn her failures into triumphs. We will all be there to cheer her on.
When she cries, it is absolutely OK to hug her. When she is dramatic, it's OK to turn your head and roll your eyes. If she forgets to be a friend, it's OK to remind her to be one. If she is nervous, it's OK to pat her hand and even whisper a quick prayer to her or to yourself. If she doesn't remember her manners, it's OK to tell her to use them. If she tells you that she loves you, it's OK to say it back.
She will say that to you. As I typed that sentence, tears rolled down my cheeks. It is so difficult to let her go: to let her spread her wings and open the door to new opportunities and to people that I do not know. I am comforted to know that you will be there with her. You are not her teacher by happenstance. I have prayed for you for years and God placed you into her life because He knows you will nurture her and love her.
So, thank you for loving her well. For the memories you will create with her. For the lessons you have planned for her. For the look of assurance that you will give this nervous mommy when I drop my girl off and place her in your care for 6 and a half hours a day. She is going to do great, because you are great.
Sincerely,
Princess Addi's Mommy (Yes, she thinks she is a real princess...she is)
