teacher mama
Posted on March 20, 2007
"You don't have kids yet, right? That's why you cannot understand what we're feeling."
This is what a parent said to me when they went to school to talk to me. Their grade four son had a broken right arm and I asked him try writing his answers to an exercise using his left hand. He didn't complain but his parents did. Looking back, I still don't regret what I did. Even now that I have a kid already.
This incident has made me wonder then about the kind of parent I would be. As teachers, we've come across different kinds of parents. Some have gained my admiration more than others. Others, sadly, simply view the teachers not as partners in their child's education but as an adversary. I've never really treated my students as if they are my own children. Simply because I haven't had one, the parent is right - I didn't know what it feels like to have a kid. But they were mine, my responsibilities. I related to them by thinking how it was for me when I was their age. I tried getting their confidences by being one of them. If I indeed do part-time teaching this coming schoolyear, it makes me wonder whether my new status as a mother would change my teaching style. I guess the only way to find out is to try it out.
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hi andrea! nice place you got here.
tc!
Hey just passing by, I like your content
I got here through Pinoy Moms Network. I can relate with the ’sentiments’ of the parents of your student. My 8 year old daughter had a broken arm too last year and she did not attend school for a month per doctor’s advise. I wouldn’t allow her too even if the doctor would say it’s okay. Anyway, I was thankful her adviser and the rest of her teachers understood her predicament. Every other day we go to school just to pick up her lessons and we did the tutoring at home. After a month, I’m still worried that she might slip or some accident would happen. We were allowed to bring her and fetch her to and from her classroom. The teachers were careful too in allowing her to join the crowd of students since her arm was still vulnerable to another fracture then. If I may say, all her teachers are mothers. Maybe that’s why they understood my being makulit and over protective of my daughter. Or maybe they are just doing their duties as teachers and as you said, their students are their responsibilities when inside the campus or at least, the classroom. Nevertheless, I am still thankful.
I cannot really say if there would be a great difference if her adviser is not a mother. But then again, generally, a woman’s heart is a lot ‘understanding’ when she’s a mother already. As they say, at times there’s that mother’s instinct that comes with some decision making when one’s a mother already. Just sharing my (long) thought.
dami ng nabago when I left for the hospital. nice new place you got Andrea and how adorable Mateo is from all your kwentos. you and ramil are really doing everything to be such wonderful parents. lahat tayo yan ang gusto para sa anak natin diba? now I know because I already have my own bundle of joy.
keep in touch and thanks for dropping by my blog and leaving a message! take care!
Hi Dionne! Thanks for dropping by.
Hello Ria! Thanks, keep visiting and reading
Hi Lynn! Thanks also for visiting. Yeah, even though I didn’t regret what I did, I totally understood the parent who said that to me. I even said sorry for having caused additional concern/worry. I guess different people have different ways of parenting also. My decision to ask the student to use his left (unbroken) arm was consulted with the student’s adviser which also happens to be a mother. While it is true that being a mother may ’soften’ me, I think being one offers a new perspective on my being a teacher but I think my teaching style will be the same
Thanks again!
Hello Litzie! So happy for you and Denon and Baby Dustin!!!
Enjoy your little bundle of joy.