A Piece of Me Goes Missing
- Deb Dekoff
- Nov 1, 2016
- 3 min read
When children become your life, and suddenly you are without them - a piece of you goes missing. That is how it feels to be out of the classroom for an extended period of time: like a piece is missing.
It's been almost a month since I've been in my classroom. And it won't be until January that I return.
I miss my students. I miss eaves dropping on the inane tales they tell each other. I miss laughing with them at something insignificant. I miss talking with them - never at them - and helping them to understand concepts. I miss admitting, that sometimes, I don't know because "I don't know everything - yet", and challenging them to find the answer. I miss "thinking aloud" to model thought process, and editing words as I go.
I miss teaching them a new vocabulary word: prefix, root, suffix, and watching their eyes roll as if to say, "there she goes again..."
I miss questioning their ideas and thoughts in a Socratic way.
I miss asking them to support what they say - with three facts. I miss being "taught" by students who know more than I do about computers, or another topic that they are an expert on due to parental involvement, discussion, or personal exploration.
Students become a teacher's life. We spend more time with "other people's children" than we do with our own. We come home from work bringing with us , not only a plethora of papers to grade, but with 190 little hearts and souls all needing a different level of love and understanding. Their wee worries are not always so small, and to brush off a concern can cause the dust to accumulate on a pile already so high that to do so would only bury the child.
We are the pseudo-parents, the friends, the mentors, the coaches.
We are the nurses, the counselors, the second or third opinions.
We are the omniscient sages. We are your teachers.
And this teacher misses you.
(Photo of the paper crane heart by Lyndsey Jacobsen.)
Through the years I have reconnected, sometimes fleetingly via a Facebook post, with a former student.
It's always good to know how they are doing, where they are, and what path in life has become theirs.
This I ask: YOU - as a former student of many teachers - take ten minutes today to send an email out to your former teachers.
Tell them you are thinking about them, and thank them for being part of your life.
Update us on you.
Because we remember, and we still care.
The most beautiful words...
A piece of me is missing too....and that piece is you. While I am sorry that years have passed since we reconnected, I am blessed because when we connect via FB or email or phone, it's as if time has stood still all these years with feelings unchanged. You are THE hero in my story......you are the teacher you are asking me to reach out to. There is so much truth in your post....for me...you played many roles....teacher, listener, counselor, comforter, confidant, friend but most importantly you taught me lessons that were not to be found in a text book or math problem or prefix of a word. You taught me the meaning of the most precious gift of all....love. You loved me, cared for me and showed me a compassion I had never known. For me, a young, troubled girl, you were my refuge, my safe place. I could NEVER repay you for the kindness you've shown or for opening your heart so big and wide for such a reserved, withdrawn, and broken child. Even after all these years, there are so many things left unsaid...i feel sometimes it's like trying to purchase something that's not for sale. I can say this however......you, a beautiful, caring and loving teacher...you .were.MY.saving.grace.....no doubt about it. I love you and keep a special place for you in my heart always, always remember that! Te quiero mucho!
Veronica 5 days ago Reply 1
Comments