When I was in Kindergarten I was fortunate enough to have an amazing teacher. Her name was Mrs. Jensen. To a young five year old, she looked very “grandmotherly,” though I don’t know how old she was at the time. I remember her soft voice and enthusiasm for teaching.
She had sheep at her house, though she didn’t live on a farm. She took us there to shear the sheep. I don’t know what we were supposed to learn from that day, but I remember it. Mrs. Jensen also encouraged us to sit next to Danny Thompson after he threw up all over a class project. None of the girls would do it, but I’m sure the boys probably thought he was very cool. She was so compassionate and caring. The perfect teacher, particularly for kindergarteners.
After spending a year with her, I wanted to be a teacher. This pleased my parents as I used to always say I wanted to be the bag lady at the grocery store – I was so curious to see what everyone had in their carts, a bag lady was a dream job! As the years went on, my interested changed. For a while, I was going to be a divorce attorney – then my parents divorced and I decided that perhaps that wasn’t the best job for me. I wanted to be an accountant, but my first college accounting class taught me other wise.
As luck would have it. I ended up becoming a teacher. Though not a teacher in the sense that you’re thinking of.
I worked for a huge restaurant company, and one of my roles there was to teach new employees. I taught them things like how to make a salad, how to open and properly serve wine, how to cook with a saute pan, and how to take inventory. Teaching component of my day was fun, but the hours were not! Lucky for me, I quickly progressed into a role at the corporate office which allowed me to continue to teach but enjoy weekends off!
This new role was a fun adventure, it taught me that you can be a teacher to those who are older than you. You can teach those who think they know everything. You can teach those who seem to be in the wrong field all together.
Since leaving the corporate world and becoming a stay-at-home mother, I find that I am teaching more than ever. At the same time, I am learning more. Every day is an adventure filled with wonder and joy and a few tears.
Thank you Mrs. Jensen, for teaching me to be a patient teacher.
Everyone is a teacher at some point in their life. What have you taught lately?
This post was written as part of BlogHer’s NaBloPoMo December challenge. Today’s prompt was “Do you enjoy teaching others? Talk about a time you taught someone how to do something.” Sign ups to participate in this month’s Blog Roll close TODAY. Be sure to check out the participating bloggers and the daily prompts. Daily writing prompts can often become a great source of inspiration and encourage you to write about things you haven’t previously explored.
It’s so important that we never stop learning, and to teach what we learn and know to others. Therefore, we are all teachers. There is nothing more rewarding than teaching and sharing with our children.
I homeschool my girls and the best part is when I can see the “aha!” moment in their faces! But, like you said, I think I’m learning more than they are … we never stop learning …
Hope you have a nice day.
Sheblog
I teach everyday. Lately I have been teaching the kitten to stay off the table. 😉
I think everyone is a teacher, too. We are constantly influencing others lives and growing ourselves.
I was a substitute teacher for many years, and as a mom, of course, was a teacher all ther time!
A few times a year I teach a beginning class for new dispatchers; I’ve been doing it for 10 years now and I still get stage fright when I first start talking. I always think I won’t have enough to say but I always end up knowing there was so much more I could have talked about once I got started.
I went to school to be a teacher but I was not that great at it so I decided to do the right thing and not teach. I do teach my son a variety of things on a daily basis.
Right now I am teaching my daughter how to drive. Oh my goodness it takes a lot of energy to control yourself. Things that you take for granted do not come easy to new drivers. All in all it has been a good experience for both of us.
Oh my gosh! I forgot that one day I will have to teach my son how to drive. The thought is terrifying!
I was a kindergarten teacher for three years prior to having my own kids. It’s amazing the difference….parents are kids’ first and most important teachers. We have a big job! Before getting used to my parenting job, I kinda wished there was someone to pick my kids up after a long day though….lol.
There are days when I wish someone would come pick up my son, too! I’m thankful that The Texan often picks up on that and sends me out for a bit.