I have the best and worst job. This afternoon was one of those "bleh" times. You know, it's like lunch isn't settling, your stomach is cramping, your up-chuck reflex is in full-swing, and your colon is threatening to explode unless you take off your panty-hose right now! It's like your head is pounding, your eye twitching, back aching, and-- basically-- your body hurts so much that all you can seem to do is sit behind your desk while student after student come to you asking the same question that you know you answered at least 12 times before they began working on their assignment.... Yeah. It's like that.
Kids. How annoying.
Can't they let me enjoy my body's violent episode in peace? Can't they listen to directions the first time? Can't they just sit quietly at their desks and teach themselves how to spell "another" and "responsibility" on their own? Can't they use the restroom without asking my permission first? (PS-- When is my restroom break?! Huh?) Can't they find something with which to quietly entertain themselves while I quietly cry to myself until the bell rings?
Kids. What a pain. What a terrible blessing it is to take stewardship over 26 little people everyday who may-- or may not-- want to be in school.
I think Charles Dickens said it best in Nicholas Nickelby when he called children exactly what they are-- "a divine burden."
Do I enjoy every moment as a teacher? No. Kids are hard work, and I applaud you parents who get to take the little rascals home. They are-- they are a burden. You actually have to take time to teach them to do things the way you want them done. You have to make sure they have clothes (and coats for recess, please), food, a place to stay. Anyone who knows kids know that they can smell bad, they can do the stupidest things (like pour water on a light-bulb for no reason), and --for some inexplicable reason I've yet to figure out-- they're usually sticky and messy.
Who would want to put up with that? Who would willingly put themselves in charge of a little person that, by the way, looks up to and absorbs everything you do? Who would choose to give up their selfish habits and lifestyles in order to maintain a safe living environment for a kid? You cry when they cry. You hurt when they hurt. You would sooner chop off your own head than wish them harm (except for, you know, vaccinations). Why on Earth would I care enough to fight through my own physical and emotional pain to run laps around a classroom as I'm bombarded with raised hands that may--or may not-- have a pertinent question on the other end?
Yeah-- kids make us miserable. But you know what else they do? They make us better people. And, you know what? It kind of bugs me that some would see kids as lesser-people. They're little. Not lesser. In many ways, children have impressed me and taught me more than any adult ever could. Who wouldn't want that divine burden to become acquainted with a child?
Yet we still have stupid "grown-ups" who feel that kids would "cramp their style." (Insert TIME magazine article here, except I won't because it made me mad.) Nope. No kids for us. We're too cool..... All right. Have fun looking back and regretting your life in 20 years. Having no kids for medical reasons is tragic, and I'm deeply sorry for those in that situation. Having no kids because you're too selfish... yeah. That's maddening to a girl like me.
Even worse-- what about the adoring parents who so lovingly abandon their children on the street? (Seriously? Do you know how many people would love to care for that baby?) At least be responsible enough to get rid of your offspring in an adult way. Sheesh.
I think I need to mellow out a bit. Maybe I'm just cranky because my insides are still actively stabbing at me from the inside out. Maybe it's this stupid "uplifting" video I just watched: watch at your own risk. I suppose that, deep down (even beneath my temperamental bowels) there's a girl who would gladly carry a divine burden such as a child. For those out there who crave to hold a baby and help that child grow into adulthood-- yet haven't had the opportunity-- I get it. I understand your need to punch a wall and/or throw up whenever a child is abused or neglected. I understand your frustration when you wonder why "so-and-so" had an abortion when you haven't been so divinely "cursed" with a pregnancy. (Or even the opportunity to get pregnant.)
I don't know why that happens. I don't know why some of us who yearn to be mothers and fathers never get the chance. But I do know that every child is infinitely loved by a Heavenly Father who is infinitely aware of their trials. That goes for both born and unborn. That goes for you. That goes for me. That even goes for the girl who, for some misguided reason, felt that the best choice was to kill her baby. That even goes for the jacka** "father" who "helped" create the child, yet did nothing to help save him/her.
As for the parents who ask teachers what they can do to help their child improve their grades: Thank you for taking an interest in your child's education. You never annoy us teachers when you do that.
As for the parents who joyfully accompany their children on weekend outings: Thank you for exposing your child to the world in a safe environment.
As for the parents who work three jobs to make sure their children's needs are met: Thank you for loving your child enough to sacrifice for their physical needs.
As for the parents who would do anything within their power, up to and including the sacrifice of their own lives, in order to raise their children: Thank you. Just thank you.
Kids. What a profound responsibility. What a meaningful adventure. What better way could we choose to spend our lives?
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