I'm not a mommy (yet). That is something that will probably happen in the near future.
I'm not a mommy, but I am an aunt.
I am an aunt to two sweet little girls and three precious little boys. Two of these little boys start Kindergarten this week, (and one starts preschool) and I have a lot of feelings. My best idea for channeling those feelings is to write an open letter to their teachers. Here goes nothin'...
Dear Parker, Thomas, and Jameson's Teachers,
Happy first day of school! This is a day full of excitement and nerves, anticipation and anxiety. You are welcoming a sweet little mob of loving and dependent children into your room, and I admire you. I know it may seem unusual to be getting a letter from an aunt. You have probably gotten letters from moms, maybe dads, but never aunts. I promise that I'm not crazy - I'm just crazy about these kids and I have some things to share with you that might help you through the tough times.
Parker and Thomas were born when I was a senior in college. I was finished with student teaching and had a lot of spare time, so I spent a good deal of it with these two boys in their first months of life. In fact, I lived with my brother and sister-in-law when Parker was a newborn. I got a good glimpse into what motherhood is like - the good, the bad, and the ugly. I also forged a bond with these two boys that can never be broken. I held them when they cried, I changed their diapers, and I applied Boudreaux's Butt Paste when needed. I snuggled and cooed with them, I posted way too many pictures of them on Facebook, and I talked about them incessantly to anyone who would listen.
Jameson came a few years later and has the biggest personality. I first met him when he was a few days old, and it was the first time that my now husband met my family. Jameson is a ham and a snuggle-bug and a force to be reckoned with. He turns three tomorrow and still has us all wrapped around his little finger.
So why am I telling you this?
Because I want you to see them the way that I see them. These boys will probably misbehave in your class. You may get frustrated with them from time to time; I get it. I taught 5th grade boys in a self-contained classroom for four years, so believe me, I get it. But during those times when I was out of patience and teetering towards the edge, the best thing I could think to do was to see my students through the eyes of their parents, aunts, grandparents, etc.
When you are exhausted from lesson planning and you see Thomas give in to his emotions over reason, I want you to picture him as a two-year-old making his whole family laugh by referring to himself as "T-bone".
When you have finally convinced all of the kids to start on a project and Parker still needs more convincing, I want you to picture him as a one-year-old when the only word he could say was "twactor".
When you have gotten all of the kids cleaned up after snack time and Jameson still insists on eating more fruit snacks, I want you to picture him toddling down the street dressed as Marshall from Paw Patrol and saying, "Happy Halloween now!"
When you are at your wit's end and just cannot get them to calm down, I want you to picture Parker and Thomas snuggling together after a long morning of splashing around in the pool at their grandma's.
You have the hardest job in the world. You have to be patient, understanding, nurturing, firm, and loving to kids who aren't your own. You have to teach them math, reading, writing, manners, life skills, responsibility....and on and on. You are a jack of all trades. You are their "school mommy". You always have to be on, available, and politically correct. You have to deal with their crazy parents (and aunts!). You have this great responsibility that you do not take lightly, and I am so grateful to you.
So good luck this year. You will be in my prayers.
Thank you for loving these boys as I have.
Sincerely,
Parker, Thomas, and Jamo's Aunt Becca
