When you see them...

Today as I walked tiredly through the aisles of my neighborhood grocery store there was a momma whose sweet little daughter was struggling with the concepts of indoor voice and staying with mom. I wanted to catch up with them and tell that frayed nerves, worn out, precious soul that she was doing a good job keeping her cool and being consistent even under the weight of judgmental stares. But they stayed an aisle or two ahead of me.

I finally caught up at the check out, they were at the next one over and I would love this to be one of those sweet touchy feel-y blog posts where I tell you she teared up and was so grateful I stopped her, but the reality is I didn't because I didn't want to embarrass her in front of all of those baggers and checkers. Or maybe it was that I lost my courage with so many people around, whatever the reason I regret it. I should have stopped her and told her. Not to satisfy some need in myself, but because when we are in the trenches of motherhood it is important to hear those two tiny words.

Good. Job. They hold such weight.

So dear teacher friends when you see them come into your school and they look like they can't take another step because the baby didn't sleep last night and wanted to do nothing but nurse, and their spouse is out of town, and their second grader needed 24 cupcakes shaped like planets, and their dumpling in your class only wanted to wear yellow clothes today, tell her those two words.

When they comes into your school completely put together, not a hair out of place, every paper signed, field trip money turned in early and they reads to your class on her lunch break every other Friday, tell them those two words.

When they are somewhere in between and seem to have some of it together and some of it not so much, tell them those two words.

The profound effect of connecting with parents in the trenches of raising their tiny gifts is exponential to their children. They need to know that the people they trust most, trust and see them, so that they can trust themselves. It is also one of the greatest gifts we are given as early care providers, this connection with parents. I hope you treasure it, and I hope you nurture it, and I hope you encourage them often.

Happy Teaching,

​~Sarah