This school year, our twins have started first grade and our four-year-old has started pre-K. Before day one, I have to admit, I was a nervous wreck (and I thought the first day of kindergarten was bad)… I was warned that it doesn’t get easier. As a mother, you experience so many emotions on the first day of school. You want them to be excited, confident, and safe. But, you also have a countless number of worries about how they will interact with their classmates and teachers. Will they find a friendly face? What will they do when faced with rejection or uncertainty? Will they ask for help if they need it?
Despite all my fears, however, day one was a complete success, and I have to give credit where it’s due: the teachers. First off, my four-year-old’s teacher has the most comforting voice. When she first greeted our daughter, I knew everything was going to be fine. Being the smart, experienced teacher that she is, she had pink Play-Doh ready to go at her seat until class was ready to begin (Genius!)… count on pink Play-Doh to be a great icebreaker and help a little girl feel right at home.
For my twins, their teacher has been in education for 31 years, so I knew they were in good hands from the start. But when I saw with my own eyes how she greeted each student and— with friendly authority that only a great teacher can have— inspired the attention, admiration, and respect of each student as she welcomed the class, I was in awe and amazed!
These ladies— like so many other teachers— are heroes for our community. They work tirelessly to educate, equip, and inspire students to love learning and grow academically, while fostering a safe and nurturing environment for them to flourish. If you are a teacher, I just want to say THANK YOU for everything you do! Never lose heart, keep up the great work, and know that every mother blesses your name in her prayers.
Celeste Jo Walls
Managing Editor