There are Three Good Reasons to Be a Teacher

This is a shout-out to all you teachers. Especially you crazy folks dedicated saints who work in the elementary schools. Today I went on Abby's third grade field trip to Longwood Gardens, and the most valuable lesson I learned wasn't about the flora or fauna. Instead I learned that I made an excellent career choice when I chose not to become a teacher.

I've been on plenty of field trips over the past six years, but for some reason today was different. I think I was in a bad mood. I'd kinda been roped into chaperoning. I was wasting taking a vacation day that I would have preferred to use at the beach. I had a lot of work to do in the office. And, I've got a million three other school events this week.

To add to my already irritated state, I was stuck in the group with the chaperoning dad and no teacher. We were left all alone with eleven third-graders. I think I'd have done better with the same number of ex-cons. They might have at least flirted with me to keep things interesting. Instead, I had to:

• Spell stuff ("chrysalis")
• Deal with disappointment ("Sorry, we won't have time to make it to the third treehouse")
• Remind them that they weren't the only visitors in the park ("Slow down. Watch where you're going. Try to avoid trampling other guests!")
• Reprimand ("Please stop playing with your water bottle; it's distracting")
• Provide updates on the time ("Only 10 more minutes till lunch; will you make it without passing out?")
• Entertain the lone ranger ("I'll stay with Susie-Q while the rest of you go through the maze")
• Manage potty breaks ("Anyone else have to go...AGAIN?")

And don't even get me started on the noise level on the bus or the kid sitting in front of me who had such bad gas we had to open the windows so as not to asphyxiate anyone. 

I don't know how you teachers do it. The patience. The empathy. The genuine love and care you show day-in and day-out. I'm in awe; I salute you; and I deem each and every one of you a Freakin' Angel. Enjoy your well-deserved summer off!

[P.S. I'll buy a drink for the first person who responds to this post (in the blog comment section) with the three good reasons to be a teacher!]