I Am More than Just a Preschool Teacher

I am more than a preschool teacher! I am an early childhood educator.

I definitely am not a babysitter. I have never sat on a kid, (well I have in fun) and I strive to not to sit on their desires to learn, explore, grow and impact the world around them.

I am not a daycare provider. God provides the days, I pray I use them wisely to impact the young minds and lives entrusted to my care.

But I want to tell you what I am.

I am a confidant.  I am told special secrets, hurts and joys.  I am given the gift of trust that I am interested in everything they have to say.

I am a nurse.  I fix small and big cuts. Attend to children who are ill and can heal just about anything with ice an ice pack.

I am a counselor. I listen to fears, walk beside a child or parent having an anxiety attack. I give tools for developing communication skills and I prescribe hugs.

I am a psychologist. I examine behaviors and actions and try to understand them.  I then put my knowledge and experience to work creating solutions and new situations to help the child grow.

I am a veterinarian. I care for classroom pets, medicate ill pets and sometimes when the pet does not survive (like our goldfish, Heartbeat, whom died during our NAEYC visit) I am an undertaker and Pastor.

I am a plumber. I unclog sinks and toilets.  I take apart traps and clean them out.  I stop leaks and repair faucets.

I am a waitperson. I serve meals, clean up after meals and smile even when my customers are messy, fussy and forget the tip.  My tips all come in hugs, kisses and handmade pictures.  You can't put them in the bank, but no money could replace their value.

I am a janitor. I clean up messes, wash out toilets and sinks, sweep and mop floors, wash toys, and do laundry.

I am an entrepreneur. I develop ways to create funds to aid my class.

I am a magician. I create things out of very little or nothing when the budget is tight or nonexistent.

I am an artist.  I teach all types of media and teach children to recognize beauty around them and use their art as their voice.

I am a musician. I sing song, perform for the audience, teach music theory and conduct the choir.

I am a scientist, mathematician, home economics teacher and language specialist.

But most of all I am BLESSED.  I get to spend the most important years of a child's life teaching them, watching them grow and leaving a little piece of me in their hearts. 

I AM PROUD TO BE AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR!