Why I Teach

There are those moments, though few, when the parent emails arrive and the politics arise, that I feel like I need to re-evaluate why I do what I do and what exactly it is that I am. And then there are the good moments, and the good days, where I forget the emails, I forget the politics and I think of the kids; I remember who I need to be and often, who I am:

I am a talent scout,

I am a life coach,

and I am a character builder.

I teach acceptance,

I teach responsibility,

I teach empathy,

and somewhere along the way, I teach English.

I teach for the kids who don't have a mom or who don't have a dad. I teach for the kids who have to walk two or three miles home or take the city bus for an hour to get home. I teach for the kids who, when they get home, no one is there. When students leave my room, I want them to KNOW that I cared about who they are now and who they will be in the future. I try to take a genuine interest in their outside activities and make an effort to use examples in my lessons that parallel these activities. I realize the importance and need to connect with my student first before they can connect to the curriculum. I often remind myself of 1 Peter 4:10-11 in my teaching:

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” (NIV)

I remind myself that God should be glorified in my teaching. I am not perfect, I make mistakes, and I will fail at times, but with God’s guidance and His glorification as my goal, I just might make some right choices too.

I have learned, in my limited experience, that teaching is not about the essay. It is not just about the test or getting the ‘A.’ It is not just about the academic lessons -- it is about the life lessons. I want my students to know that they are accepted in my class. Maybe that is achieved by encouraging the quiet students to join the club or be a part of the group; maybe it is by motivating the less academic students to use their art or speaking talent in my class, highlighting their strengths, and making them feel like an expert in something that shows them their potential.

Because, sometimes it only takes one person to believe in you to change your world.

So, when the end of the quarter comes and the parent and student emails begin and they ask me why I ‘gave’ certain grades or could I please give them some last minute extra credit? I remind myself:

It’s not about the essay.

And it’s not about the ‘A.’

School is just as much about life as it is about academics.

And so

I will continue to teach character.

I will continue to teach kindness,

Acceptance,

Hard work,

Responsibility,

Love and

Grace.

And somewhere along the way, I will also teach English.

 


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{WIW} Value

When you look in  the mirror, what do you see?

Do you see someone big? Small? Ugly? Pretty? Significant? Or insignificant?


There is a battle raging.

It's keeping you from achieving your dreams...

It's keeping you from reaching your potential...

It's keeping you from accomplishing your goals.

There are no soldiers.

There is no supernatural course of nature.

There is no uncontrollable force.

There is only one  thing.

You.

The voice in your head.

The voice that tells you you can't.

You're not good enough.

You're not worthy.

You are not enough.

But I am here to tell you that YOU ARE.

That the steady mantra inside your head needs to be replaced with the marching shouts of confidence.

And that when you look in the mirror you see

Value,

{Old Navy "Diva" skinny jeans and Old Navy ballet flats. The shirt was a gift. Smile}

Strength,

Worth,



and Beauty.

 Because you are beautiful

in His eyes.

That  your dreams are there for the taking.

That you have what you need to acheive your goals.

That your potential is withing reach.

And you are enough.


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I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you. {Eph. 1:18}

Find more information here: http://www.saddleback.com/series/loveandwar/

Kindness Wins

“It seems we can’t go ANYWHERE” one of my friends recently stated.

First we were all afraid to fly.

Then we couldn’t go to the movies.

Even worse, we couldn’t even send our kids to school without worry.

And now, we can’t run marathons or cheer from the sidelines.

Where did goodness go?

I look at all the tragedy, the hurt, the pain and I think,

what tragic and hurt and painful life is hiding inside the evil of the offenders?

It makes me angry and it makes me sad.

Angry that the world is this way. Angry that evil’s broad hand has such a cruel reach.

Sad at the heart that is being cultivated in our nations right now.

Sad that my kids are growing up with these realities. 

Sad that it gets more and more difficult to shield them from these events with all the social media and propaganda.

We don’t watch TV, I would stay off Facebook, but the media gets in.

And so, I change my strategy.

I search

“Positive stories from _________” {the sad event.}

And somewhere in all the mess,

I find goodness.

 

 

 

I find heroic and kind people.

 {photo credit}

I find hope in people.

{photo credit}

 

And decide not to give up on the world.

 

That for every bad person in the world, there are thousands of GOOD.

That I will add to the good  

and do my best to raise my boys in faith,

confidence,

love

and goodness.

And to intentionally seek out the kindness in the world ourselves.

Because, after all, kindness wins.

 

{photo source}



{photo source}

 

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people" (Galations 6:10)

 

When was the last time you saw someone doing something good? What acts of kindness have you witnessed lately?

 

Share more acts of kindness on Facebook and Instagram #kindnesswins

Sharing this post here.

 

Dear Mommas

Dear Mommas,

It will take more than one well planned day or one well planned post to tell you how special you are. Because, you are more than a mom.

Way more.

You are a teacher. Guiding little hands and feet along the right path, helping with homework and sharing life’s lessons.

You are encouragement. Your child’s first cheerleader, building up their confidence and their character. Showing how to lose gracefully and win even more gracefully.

You are honesty. An example of truth, trust and reality wrapped in love that shelters their young minds and gives them room to grow.

You are vulnerability. Your children see you at your best and at your worst. They view the faults and cracks in the surface and see right through the façade of perfection to who you really are. And still love you with all their hearts.

You are kindness. Modeling manners, social graces and reactions to difficult situations. When the world can be tough and cruel, you offer love.

You are broken. Don’t hide it. Embrace it. You are human, you throw momtrums, you make mistakes and your children will know that it is okay to make mistakes too.

You are craziness. Let it in. It is the silly and crazy that often bonds our families into tight knit units of inside jokes, humor and acceptance.

You are a nurse, chef, organizer, personal shopper, assistant, disciplinarian, maid, stylist, chauffer, mediator, fighter and pacifist.

You are a hero. To them. To your children you are their first friend, their best friend, and despite all our faults and brokenness and vulnerability, or perhaps because of them, you are irreplaceably and unconditionally loved.

You are unique. You may feel you are none of these things, one of these things or all of these things. And no amount of advice, books or blog posts {wink} can tell you what kind of mom you will need to be on any given day. God gave you your  specific children for a purpose; because you have a unique skill set that only you can share with them.

Own it.

You are real.

And if you are reading this as a first time momma, single mama, a one day momma, a seasoned momma or reading this thinking of YOUR momma; I want you to know,

you are loved.

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

Keep your love for one another at full strength, because love covers a multitude of sins. ~I Peter 4:8

What I Wore: Living my Dash

1977 - ?
I have a beginning date -- a birth date.
And by the grace of God, I don’t have an end date yet.
But I recently read that it’s not the beginning or the end date that counts, but that dash in between.

Think about it.

Your birth and death will be two significant dates, marked with importance and prominence. But the majority of your life will defined by that dash in between. That tiny dash - and what you do with it.

I want my dash to matter.
 To God. To my kids. To others.

So, what matters?

That answer is different for everyone.

But I know what DOESN’T matter:
Cars. Money. Houses. Decorations. Trophies…. 
All those things go away.
In the end, I won’t ask to be surrounded by my trophies, houses and money. I will want to be surrounded by the people I love and relationships I’ve built.

So how do I live my dash?
I love God.
I love my boys.
I love my neighbor.

And I try to live and love fully and freely.
Every day.
And even when I fail, at least I fail trying.


Sometimes living my dash means showing God’s love by extending love out of my comfort zone or out of my borders. {Literally}

 

{Volunteering at a Mexican Orphanage, September 2012}
Shirt and Jeans: Old  Navy

 

And always - living my dash means being a mom and spending quality time with my boys: 

{SDSU Football Game, October 2012 – Little man is tired in this pic... or giving a model pose}
SDSU Shirt: a birthday present
Jeans: Styles for Less

They are the extension of my life and my legacy of God’s love here on earth. 

And every once in a while, living my dash means pushing the limits of my inner and outer self:

 
 

{Zip Lining in Big Bear, August 2012}

Shirt: “Shine On” shirt from The Shine Project

Capris: Target

Shoes: New Balance Running Shoes

Awesome hat and gloves: From the zip lining company

I noticed something from writing these 'what I wore' posts as well. My best, shiniest and nicest clothes are not always worn in my best, shiniest and nicest moments. 

I realized the most extraordinary, meaningful and significant moments in my life usually require the most ordinary and insignificant clothes.

Living my dash.

What does it mean to live yours?

Here is the poem I read that was the inspiration for this post and my thoughts:

 

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