One of the many things I love about working with children is having the unique opportunity to relive middle school and view all the shenanigans through a Been There Done That lens. Not much gets past me, but sometimes I choose to ignore things until later. Children don’t get that though. They think they’ve gotten over, pulled the wool over my eyes, outsmarted me.
I’m busy — not blind. ~Witty Teacher
That’s so hard for them to comprehend — that adults would ignore some of their silly behaviors and pounce on them when they do something that warrants attention. I have to remind myself daily that they’re just children. They have good parents. They will grow into fine young ladies and men. They will benefit from a second chance, a fourth chance, a sixth chance. They will make good decisions more consistently one day, but for now, I have to accept that they’re still children.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:11
As adults, we tend to make good decision more consistently, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t lapse back into our childish ways sometimes. I admit that it’s hard for me to take an adult seriously when he pouts and storms off after being redirected or asked to reconsider a choice he has made. I sometimes have to remember that I, too, am an adult so that I don’t lapse into the same type of childish behavior.
During these last few weeks of school, it is my prayer that we keep our cool as our temps start to rise, that we spend time with adult friends after spending so many hours with children, that we reflect on how we behaved at the age of 13 so that we don’t repeat those behaviors at the age of 40.
Most of all, I hope that we remember that we have all been afforded second chances. Someone has forgiven us when we didn’t deserve it. Someone allowed you to keep your job after you created a costly mess. Someone took a chance on you when no one else would. If those examples aren’t convincing, consider the fact that you woke up this morning. Of all the sinful things we did yesterday, Abba Father gave us another chance to do better today. Don’t blow it. If you have the opportunity to extend someone a second chance, don’t hesitate. Just do it!
Disclaimer — Teachers, this post has nothing to do with requests for extra credit at the end of the school year. The answer to that is still a resounding No! Just kidding (kinda).
Yes Michelle, we should give second chances because God has given us so many chances over and over again.
I have to remind myself daily that they’re just children. They have good parents. They will grow into fine young ladies and men
This summarizes the whole post.
Great post!
Thanks, Jamie! <3
Hi Michelle 🙂 I’m a substitute teacher in a small community. I’ve been in classrooms from k-12 over the years. I’m currently in a replacement position until June 3rd. I’ve had the honor and privilege of watching students grow up and mature over the course of their education. It’s given me a new perspective in the classroom. Children don’t always make the best choices because, as you said, they’re children and we can’t expect them to make choices like an adult. I love interacting with students in and out of the classroom. They don’t always realize how fantastic they are but I don’t mind reminding them 🙂
Sounds like you are a blessing to the kids you encounter!
They know how much I love my job 🙂 They also know how much I like them 🙂 I’ve known some of them for years 🙂
They really need to know that you care. Thank you for showing them that. P.S. I’m grateful that Jacqueline connected us!
Me too 🙂 Jacqueline is an amazing woman 🙂
Reblogged this on Dream Big, Dream Often and commented:
Are you following Two Are Better Than One??
I love this post 👍 Thanks for sharing
Thanks so much for dropping by.
This is a timely and poignant write. As adults, we should display a sense of discipline when it comes to our temperament instead of justifying our actions. No room for temper tantrums.
Being a mother of two, I had to not only remind myself that they were children, but that they were MY children 😉
This is one of my favourite passages ” When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:11″
Have I said how much I admire teachers? 😉
Etta, kids don’t come with instruction manuals…wish they did. We do the best that we can at home and at school. Thanks so much for stopping by. 😀
If they came with instructions, life would be too easy 😉 lol!
Agreed.
Excellent post…I especially like the reminder that most of us have made mistakes from which we were allowed to recover.