Dear Mom,
Mother’s Day is just around the corner and as your child’s teacher, I just wanted to take this moment to thank you for all that you do.
Your role as a mom is never ending. You are there for the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the wins and the losses… and that is over and beyond what I throw at your when it comes to your child’s education. Nine times out of ten, I turn to you when things are going wrong with your child in the classroom and with a heavy heart, I know that you become easily discouraged by what I have to tell you at times. For my part, I do apologize for that. I should be sharing more of the positive aspects of your child – like how she has worked so hard to improve her reading level this past term or how he has helped a student feel included in the lunch room. You need to hear about these wonderful events just as much, if not more, than when something is going wrong. You deserve that and your child deserves that, too.
You take the news I give you with the stoic grace that only a mother can. I have seen you exasperated, relieved, angry, and joyful at various times during this school year. I have seen you cry and have seen you lose control. Trust me, I have felt that same exasperation, relief, anger, and joy because of your child, too. There are times when I, too, have cried and have lost control. For better or worse, that is the bond that we share. You see, generally speaking, you and I are strangers. We see each other in passing at the end of school days, meet for a few minutes during parent/teacher night, and talk for a few moments on the telephone, but the common denominator in our equation is your beautiful child that you entrust to me each and every day of the school year. Without each other, we would not be able to do our respective “jobs” to the best of our abilities.
As a mother, I know that you only want what is best for your child. As a teacher, I can say without a doubt that the same sentiment applies to your child and all the students I have been fortunate to have in my classroom. The love and caring doesn’t end when the school year is over; you can guarantee that your child will pop into my head with a loving memory attached to him or her for many years to come. His/ her triumphs are my triumphs and his/her sadness is my sadness. Your child occupies a permanent place in my heart, just as my own children do.
With this letter I hope to convey to you that you are integral part of my life because of the trust you have placed in me as your child’s teacher. It has been my privilege to be a part of your child’s world, to watch him/ her grow in maturity, independence, and self confidence. It has been an honour to walk side-by-side with you for the benefit of your child.
And for all of that, I want to thank you for being the best mother you can be. And I want to thank you for all that you do to help me be the best teacher I can be.
Happy Mother’s Day!
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