I never meant to be a teacher.
Much less a kindergarten teacher.
The plan:
corner office
big desk
lots of windows
someone taking my calls
and bringing me coffee
power lunches
high heels
Now I have:
a classroom
a computer desk
piled high with projects in waiting
projects in action
and projects to be admired
no room for my laptop
windows
looking over a playground
a myriad of seedlings growing on the sill
a phone
on the wall
on the wall
I rarely have time to answer
please leave messages
rarely coffee
water
and not too much water
no time to pee
lunch
eaten on the run
and shared
if necessary
school shoes
Pete the Cat style
fine for
sitting on the floor
climbing up the slide
running through the forest
and would I trade
nope
that corner office
does not have
a bulletin board
full of memories
photos, drawings, notes
reminding me
why we are here
everyone
our collective responsibility
to
love
nurture
grow
all our children
no job
that important
is found
in a corner office
Love it! You could wear high heels....but who wants to do that anymore!
ReplyDeleteJenny
Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to start a Sunday morning! Love the poem. I agree with the sentiments perfectly. I kind of "fell into teaching" myself and have never looked back (23 years this fall) so I guess someone above had a better plan for me:)
ReplyDeleteSidney
Teachingisagift
Beautiful poem and so true! I always knew I would teach but never thought it would be Kindergarten. Happy Sunday, a perfect run day. Liz :)
ReplyDeleteLoved the poem, especially the part about shoes! :)
ReplyDelete-Carol
Mrs. Cobb's Kindersprouts
Nailed it. :)
ReplyDeleteHaha! sweet! I was going to be an accountant. I had it all planned out and even got the economics degree. Having my own babies changed my mind. Best decision EVER:)
ReplyDeleteGrade ONEderful
Ruby Slippers Blog Designs
Pete the Cat shoes - excellent! I never planned to teach kindergarten - it's been more than 12 years now.
ReplyDeleteLovely! The last time I wore high heels to work was 6 years ago because one if my students asked if I would. I took them off before recess.
ReplyDeleteSandi,
ReplyDeleteI am not sure I intended to be a Kindergarten teacher either and have spent 25+ years in education. It's funny that you talk about not wearing high heel shoes. I have kept a collection of shoes and boots at school because in Alberta you just never know from one minute to the next what weather you might be facing on recess supervision. The mayor of Calgary read the book "Pete the Cat" for the opening of the Children's Festival there which was after the major flooding. This was an appropriate story and theme for the people of Calgary, Cochrane and High River as they struggle to regain some normalcy in their lives. Here is a link to the clip: https://www.youtube.com/embed/eJTZ719my3g
I look forward to reading more of your blog posts this summer.