The heart of a teacher

It never ceases to amaze me how much I would have missed in life without my students.  Because of my son's medicinal needs, I recently took medical leave time from work so that I could stay home and monitor his progress, adjust his diet, keep him on a schedule, etc.  Yes, he is almost 17 years old, and yet I am home with him for the first time in his young life.  I reflect here on a comment made to me by a co-worker and friend not long ago.  She said, "My kids have needed me more now that they are teenagers than they ever did when they were little."  Boy, was she right.
I've always been angry with my inability to stay home and be a Mom for my son all of those years.  Although that's not something that is common in our family, it is something that I know I had always wanted.  I mean, I'm all for women's lib here and there, but I believe that there are just some things that shouldn't be sacrificed in the name of equality, and that includes the stability and development of our children.  However, I digress..
Since I have become a teacher, it isn't until I am absent from my job that I realize how much I miss the work and the kids.  Yes, they can be frustrating and irritating and the work can be unrelenting, but it's the fact that I can say that I have been a part of over 150 lives a year for 10 years that keeps me going back.  The same person I quoted above said something about this as well.  I had been complaining about what a good life my step-sister and her husband seem to have, with their beautiful home, fancy cars, their own business, and a beautiful baby boy (and a nanny) when my friend said to me, "You know, she may have all that money and all of those material things, but you impact the lives of hundreds of kids every year, and for that you are so much more important.  You are more valuable than they will ever understand."  Again, she is so right.
Since I have been on leave, the outpouring of support and concern from my students has been amazing.  Even friends of my stepson - kids that I have not yet taught but hope to in a couple years - check in with me at least once a week to ask how Josh and I are doing.  I began receiving friend requests on Facebook, and I accepted them gladly, making this a great way to keep in touch with my students while also trying to set a good example for behavior in social networking sites.  Pretty soon, I had friend requests coming all over from my classes, and then came the chat and messages.  Not only do they check in and ask me when I'll be back, but they also make a point of asking, "How's Josh?"  More than once, this brought tears to my eyes.
What's more, I have received one - yes, ONE - email from my co-workers over the past month and 1/2 asking how I am.  Now, tell me who the real human beings are....and I'll take my kids over the other any day. God Bless them and their young hearts.  If only my son had had the privilege of knowing kids like them when he was their age.  In any case, I am grateful for them, and I hope that the world will someday get the chance to know these young, wonderful people as I have.