You Are My Hero

For Veteran's Day, I had the bright idea to write letters to Veterans. However, it wasn't just any Veteran, it was my soon to be brother-in-law, Joey, who is in the Air Force in Clovis. We started off by watching a short video on the history of the day and then I showed my students these pictures and "introduced" them to Joey.

They loved this picture and wanted to write a letter to the boy in the picture too. (Joey's nephew)

Doesn't this look an old timey war photo?

Then, we brainstormed what we wanted to write to Joey. They came up with 4 different questions to choose from and then a closing statement. They were so cute!!

All the letters

A close up of one

The cutest thing by far was that most of the girls closed their letter with "I love you Joey!" Talk about melting your heart!

Then we sent a class picture to him as well. (Just don't look to close, because I didn't blur their sweet faces. Maybe cross your eyes while looking at it!! LOL!!)

The class

And lastly, one sweet little girl came up to me the next day and said she had something else to mail to Joey and that she would bring it the next day. I was expecting a picture that she drew. SORTA!! It was a hand-drawn flag taped onto a yard stick. I didn't have the heart to tell her it wouldn't fit in the envelope. So, I sent this picture and that will be his Christmas Present. Haha!

The Flag

So, I couldn't say it any better. Thank you Joey for all you do, but especially for loving my baby sister! Welcome to our family!!

The Hardest Part of Being a Teacher

So, this week was rough with some definite highlights... I came home every night emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted. I've decided that one of the worst things about being a teacher is seeing the lives these kids have. It hurts to know that someone so little leads such a rough life. And while it's hard, I couldn't imagine doing anything different. Here are some of the struggles this week...

A little girl brings in the art project she made for me. It is all these circles cut out of really cute paper and glued onto a piece of cardboard. I thank her for it and set it aside. Later, as I'm cleaning my area up, I pick up the project and notice that it isn't any piece of cardboard. It is a Budweiser box. I know people drink all the time, and maybe her mom or dad only has one a night, but how sad is it that this little girl has to put her art project on a beer box? Instead of buying beer, maybe you could buy your child some real art supplies.

Another little boy comes into class on Thursday morning and just starts bawling. I ask him what's wrong and he tells me that his dad is telling him that his mom is a bad mom and that he is going to take him away from his mom. He explains that his dad is never around and he doesn't want to leave his mom. He just kept saying over and over that he didn't want to leave his mom and live with his dad. Parents, please leave your kids out of your marital or ex-marital drama. They don't understand and you are destroying them!!

Lastly, but definitely not least... A lot of kids call me mom and then correct themselves. (Normal... I used to do it.) What is not normal is when you have a student call you mom and not correct himself. I am his mom. He doesn't have one because his mom decided that drugs were more important than him or his older brother. His dad is doing the best he can as a single dad and I give him a lot of credit. But kids need moms and I am the closest thing this kid has to a mom. Talk about a heart breaker!!


Next time you hear someone talk about how easy it is being a teacher, you direct them to me. I will tell them just how "easy" it is. This job is not for everybody, but I know that God called me to this profession for a reason. So I will gladly accept the art projects on beer cases, be the shoulder to cry on, and be mom to 19 2nd graders.