I never meant to be a teacher

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
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








10 comments

  1. Love it! You could wear high heels....but who wants to do that anymore!
    Jenny

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  2. What 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:)
    Sidney
    Teachingisagift

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  3. 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 :)

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  4. Loved the poem, especially the part about shoes! :)
    -Carol
    Mrs. Cobb's Kindersprouts

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  5. Haha! 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:)
    Grade ONEderful
    Ruby Slippers Blog Designs

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  6. Pete the Cat shoes - excellent! I never planned to teach kindergarten - it's been more than 12 years now.

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  7. Lovely! 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.

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  8. Sandi,

    I 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.

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