Here's to the Teachers

by Amy of Bumble Belly Designs

Every year at this time, as the school year ends, I reflect back on how important my children's teachers are in their lives and consequentially mine. Throughout the year, it is their task to instruct, but more importantly, to fire up that love of learning and nurture their instinct for discovery. My son's teacher sent this wonderful note home on his last day-

"Dear Parents, I give you back your child, the same child you confidently entrusted to my care last fall. I give him back pounds heavier, inches taller, months wiser, more responsible, and more mature than he was then. Although he would have attained his growth in spite of me, it has been my pleasure and privilege to watch his personality unfold day by day and marvel at this splendid miracle of development. I give him back reluctantly, for having spent nine months together in the narrow confines of a crowded classroom, we have grown close, have become a part of each other.

Ten years from now, if we met on the street, your child and I, a light will shine to our eyes, a smile to our lips, and we shall feel the bond of understanding once more, this bond we feel today. We have lived, loved, laughed, played, studied, learned and enriched our lives together this year. I wish it could go on indefinitely, but give him back I must.

Take care of him, for he is precious. Remember that I shall always be interested in your child and his destiny, wherever he goes, whatever he does, whoever he becomes. His joys and sorrows I'll be happy to share. I shall always be his friend. - Author Unknown"

I want to send my best wishes to all the teachers out there that take our children under their wing and send them back to us a little bigger, more responsible and secure in the knowledge that they are loved.