Dear Teacher(s),

Twas' the night before school's start and the new crayons and sharpened pencils make this momma reflective.  A corner is turning, and a year of possibility before us. 

I'll admit that class sizes, standardized testing and rubber playgrounds surrounded by high fences make my eye twitch, but our excited daughter is headed to public school this year.  Considering our year last year and the year ahead, she needs it.  We've prayed it over, weighed the pros and cons, and two will be learning homeschool style and one headed into the school system.  Tonight, the words for her teacher, and all the teachers, are spilling....

 

Dear Teacher,

We're all in.  Ready to partner up and step bravely toward agendas and homework assignments.

You're on the front lines.  You sit in meetings hearing about standards, time-lines, testing, and the latest teaching techniques, but then you also sit on a rug surrounded by a class of expectant small people who don't care much about any of those things.

You are going to be busy, torn and stretched.  I promise to help.  I'll read your newsletter and send in more Clorox wipes when you need them.  I'll smile at you at Open House, and come in to help when I can.  If I can cut, staple or copy to free you up to focus on planning, let's make it happen.   A few apples and some chocolate might land on your desk as well.    

I must tell you though that my beginning of the year plans might get sidetracked  occasionally by our at home craziness.  This family is a mix of prepared and forgetful.  We promise to do our best, but we'll need grace here and there. 

I have no expectation of perfection on your end either, just big heart for the position you are in.  We trust that our daughter's name landed on your roll for a reason.  She has much to learn from you between August and May. 

We want her to master math facts, spell correctly, find Georgia on a map, identify facts in a paragraph, fall in love with characters in great books and compose complete sentences. 

We hope she's captivated by science held in her hands and captured by history's stories.  

The funny thing?  We really don't care too much about getting her to read three levels above grade level or that she gets 100% on math tests.  We hope she's prepared for those pesky standardized tests, but her rank compared to her age group really doesn't matter much to us. 

As much as we'll be intentional and present, we are not helicopter parents.  We believe in consequences.  If she fusses over completing an assignment or forgets to pack a folder, we might step back and let her experience the ramifications.   She's a great kid, but is as flawed as her parents.  Don't be afraid to give her feedback or tell us her weaknesses. 

 
Mostly?  We care about her heart. 

We want her to obey because its right, not because there is a plastic treasure in a prize box. 

We want her to be honest when she messes up, and not hesitate to apologize. 

We want her to clean up to help you, not because you had to ask.   

We want her to befriend the new kid and the ignored, and share her snack with the kid who forgot his.

We want her to stand in front of the class and be who she is made to be, unafraid to be silly, creative or serious.

We hope she's brave and tries new, scary things. 

We hope there's time for messy art, beautiful music and kickball. 

We want her to be six, exchanging rainbow loom bracelets with other little girls, giggling at class jokes and adding smiley faces to her drawn suns.    

When other little girls leave her out or make comments about her outfit, we want her to be unshaken and confident in who she is and Who made her

We want her to love putting pencil to paper, not inhibited by the need to be perfect. 

We want her to get lost in worlds found between the pages of well written books, kindled not just by obligation to fill lines on a reading log or score AR points.

When she hears things we'd rather she not hear yet, we hope she doesn't waver in her understanding of right and wrong. 

And yes, more than anything, we pray that she'll love the Lord with all her heart, soul and mind. 

We are going to be praying at home for both of you.  That we can promise.  Donning her charm covered pink backpack, she's taking a step away from us tomorrow, and taking a step toward you.  As much as we'd like to keep time from passing, it is with joy that we watch her walk through new doors, changing and growing. 

So, we signed all the papers and purchased the glue sticks.    Her backpack is by the door and her lunch chilling in the fridge, hopeful for a great year.

 

Sincerely,
Her Parents

PS:  I tend to run late.  Sorry in advance.  Oh, and she might miss a few days, we've got a thing for road trips.