As I mentioned in my first post, I work as a kindergarten teacher. Well this is probably nowhere near a father role, not that I would know, I don't have any kids of my own.
But! I spend eight hours a day, five days a week with these seven wonderful kids in my group. And I don't just spend time with them, I do everything with them. I eat with them, play with them, sing with them, if they get hurt I'm there for them, if they bully each other I tell them to stop and explain why they shouldn't bully each other, basically I teach them right and wrong and why it's right or wrong.
So two years ago when these kids started coming to kindergarten they were about one and a half year old and some of them had just learned to walk.
Sometimes I still subconsciously help them out with their clothes, but they are always reminding me of how much they have grown and that they can do it them selves.
I'm really proud of them, feels amazing watching how much they have grown and how independent they are at just the age of three! I know they have their families, their fathers, mothers and some of them have siblings that they are learning from, but still eight hours of their days are pretty much half of their awake time and these two years I have been with them, that's over half of their life!
At first I just took this as a regular work, but over time you are starting to know them better, and suddenly you know them so good that you know their next move, and even before they get to say "hi" in the morning, you already know how the day will go.
Now a day I don't really think of it as work, It's more like a second home to me.
What I wanted to get said is, after three weeks I'm going to move on with my life and probably do something else than teaching at a kindergarten. I'm not quitting because I don't like it, that's not the case, I really enjoy my time with the kids. But there is something else I want to do, even though I don't know exactly what at this specific moment, but maybe I'll figure something out during the summer.
I haven't been thinking too much about me leaving, until today when one of my kids heard from his mother that I'm going to quit. He instantly raised his voice and told her that "Jerry is going to be here forever". And at that moment my brain started spinning, what are the kids thinking about me leaving? As I said, over half of their life I have been with them every weekday morning that they arrive at kindergarten, and suddenly I wont be there anymore. Well they will probably wonder for some time where I am, but sooner or later they will probably forget about me.
The same doesn't go for me, this feels terrible! Even though I know they aren't my kids, it still feels painful leaving them. After such a long time and all the hours I have spent with them, all the things we have learned together, I will suddenly have to move on. I will probably never forget about them, and I have promised to go visit them every now and then.
For all the mothers and fathers here on Steemit that are leaving their kids at kindergarten, you'll never have to be worried about ending up second to a kindergarten teacher, your kids will always be bound to you on a different way. That is something even I can understand, even though I'm not a parent.
I'm sure the parents are forever grateful to have you as the teacher of their children and the kids, especially, loved spending time with you, Mr. Jerry .
I sure hope so. Atleast I enjoyed my time with the kids. :)
I'm sure they did.
Hopefully, their next teacher will be just as good as you. One of the best things in life is for a child to have a great teacher that they will always remember. There are some teachers that are a bad memory. I still remember my first grade teacher, although she was a permanent substitute for the other teacher that had to leave, as one of the nicest and kindest people I have ever met. That was over 60 yrs. ago.
Thank you for being such a great human being and teacher for your 7 little kids. You'll always be a good memory in their life.
I couldn't agree more with you. Thank you so much for the kind words @janiko, it makes my day to hear such fine words. That's terrible how people can act, I'm sorry to hear that.
Thank you!
Being as second parent in the school and you guide and protect em. Good job. You are the hero. Good article.
Thank you @taufar! Glad you enjoyed reading it :)
Although I haven't been around the same kids for as long as you have, I can still relate to these feelings 100%. Because when you work at a kinder garden full-time, you spend more time with the kids while they're awake than their parents do. It's crazy! So no wonder you get emotionally attached to them. Sometimes I really miss some of the kids I've gotten to know and wonder how they are doing now.
Absolutely! I bet the kids you did get to know are doing great :)
Thank you for understanding.
Mantap bro
great...your post deserve upvote and resteem...
Thank you! Much appreciated!
u r welcome...
thanx for your service to the community. they will love you like a legend. good riddance.
Haha, maybe so. :)
Wow, loved your post.
Really great to know that you are a kindergarten teacher. Teachers are the building blocks of a student, and a kindergarten teacher is surely the one to take the first step after parents.
It is amazing that you got to spend so much time with children. :)
But now you are moving one. Well, you surely will carry good memories for life. With time, kids will get aquainted with new teachers, don't worry :)
Thanks, liked your comment. :)
I totally agree that teachers and kindergarten teachers are important for you.
And absolutely it's amazing to be around kids, but I hope this post didn't give the wrong idea about being a kindergarten teacher, it's not all sunshine, as everyone has their bad days, even kids have them.
These memories will be with me forever, I believe they will!
Thank you for your amazing comment and sticking around to read the whole post!
You are welcome :)
Do share your journey on the go! Will be waiting :)
That's amazing! thanks @nirmal, I'll follow up on you aswell!
Have a great weekend!