Top Ten Things Henry Taught Me...#8

10.  Anything worth having is worth working for.
9.  Enjoy the little things.
8.  Every child I interact with is someone's "Henry."
Before Henry was born, I considered myself to be a decent teacher.  I most definitely considered myself a caring teacher.  I cared about my students...wanted them to enjoy reading and books...wanted them to learn and grow and explore...wanted them to feel safe at school...  However, since Henry was born I think I've become a better teacher.  I've become more patient, more understanding, and more aware of what the students need.  As I started the year with kindergarteners, instead of being frustrated that they wouldn't sit still for more than about 30 seconds, I pictured myself sending Henry off to kindergarten.  I pictured him, at 5 or 6 years old, in a new environment with new people, and thought about how I'd want his teachers to be patient with him.  As I had kids that were still learning how to treat books with respect, I realized that they might not have books at home, or anyone who has taught them how to respect books.  They may have never been to a library before coming to school.  And as I had kids that wanted to tell me long stories, I wondered if they had anyone at home who wanted to listen to those stories.

As I interact with students this year, I always think to myself about how I'd want Henry treated.  Then I remind myself that every one of my students is someone's Henry.  Not all of them have a mom and a dad at home...some of them have neither, but they all have someone that loves them and wants the best for them.  They are the whole world to someone, and I need to treat them that way.  That's not to say that I need to treat each student as a prince or princess, but I need to treat them with respect and caring.  I need to be a positive influence in their lives, and be someone that they can trust to watch out for them and be there for them.  That's what I would have wanted for Henry, and it was through him that I became a more compassionate teacher.

7.  To be a mother is to watch your heart walk around outside your body.
6.  There truly are angels on earth.
5.  Everyone is fighting some sort of battle we know nothing about.
4.  Time is a gift.
3.  Death is not the end of a relationship.
2.  You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.
1.  Motherhood is the best job I could ever hope for.