Jewish Voice Article: August Edition

I don't really think that being a parent comes naturally to me. I never considered being a stay at home parent. I (not so) secretly dread sick days and holidays when I have to solo parent. I don't believe that my child is a special snowflake, other than his unique ability to test my patience for large portions of every day. Yet, I want so badly for my kid to have people who are completely in his corner, thinking he's the cutest, funniest, easiest baby on the planet.

When my son Noah first started in the Early Childhood Center at 3 months old, I immediately connected with his teacher. As an infant, he seemed to be pretty low maintenance at school. He was perfectly fine with being dropped off, he napped reasonably well, and he let pretty much anyone hold him. I felt like everyone just adored him.

The transition to his next class (the rising 1s) seemed to go well, but a few months after he turned 1, there was a huge shift in his overall disposition. He turned into a monster, losing his mind every morning at drop-off, whining constantly, and just being angry all the time. I developed a story in my head that his teacher hated him, and everything she said was evidence to me of this theory: mentioning a gross diaper, counting the number of times he attempted a bite, likening him to Napoleon (small and angry) – all proof. I started feeling like my kid was getting left behind, not getting the help he needed to deal with his huge emotions and overcome his developmental delays.

Then I had my parent-teacher conference and realized how far from reality my mind had gone. I learned that my kid had a teacher who was invested in him and understood him so deeply. She knew that she had to pretend not to be looking at him in order for him to finish eating. She knew that he needed to lay on the floor unbothered for a few minutes after drop-off to cool off. She knew that he would eventually sign "help" when he got his walker stuck, trusting that she would be there to get him out.

Noah’s teacher is a superhero. She learns a child’s individual needs and caters her teaching style to each one. She never loses patience. She never gives up. And, she treats every single child like he was her own.

I wasn't born to be a mother, but that's ok, because it takes a village to raise a child. And I have that village at school. Where my kid isn't coddled, but cared for. Where both he and I are taught kindness, respect, peace, and patience.

(Link to article here: http://www.omagdigital.com/publication/?i=425635&pre=1#{"issue_id":425635,"page":28})