I know you hear it all the time, the cliche saying, “Having children is life changing!” Well, I’m not a mom so I can’t vouch for that statement, but I can say that working with children has changed mine. At the age of 16, I started working with kids, even though I still was pretty much one myself. I thought it would be an easy job where I could play with kids all day long. Little did I realize how crucial my job was to not only the children, but to myself.
When you work in child care, you’re responsible for children for more than 40 hours a week. They see you almost as much as they see their parents. Therefore, you are a role model to them. Being a role model is probably one of the most important jobs there is. Anything you do, that child will mimic and accept as appropriate behavior. If you get easily frustrated and give up, they will, too. If you aren't happy and enthusiastic to be at work, they won't be either.
Being a role model taught me self control. When I felt like giving up or slacking off at work, I would look at my students and remember how important I am to them. If I give up on myself, I’m giving up on them. So ever since I started working with children, I refuse to quit. I try to practice what I preach because I know if any of my students felt like throwing in the towel, I would explain to them all their potential. So why not say the same things to myself?
There are always times where teachers wanna give in and go work at a McDonald’s instead of dealing with screaming children. I’m not gonna lie, it’s not all the beauty and pureness of little angels. Kids can be MEAN. Kids can be loud. Kids can be insane. But at the end of the day, you have so much love being given to you. A kid can scream how much they hate you when you make them change their color, but in a few hours, they’ll want your approval on their writing assignment. Kids aren't spiteful creatures like adults can be, they have a wonderful sense of generosity, forgiveness, and love.
Another thing they don’t tell you about working with children is how hilarious and fun it is. A lot of people hear that I’m a teacher and go, “Ugh, that must be awful!” Uh, no. So wrong. I get paid to hang out with cool little kids all day. I get paid to be around the most innocent and pure human beings. I get paid to help color pictures and host mini dance parties. I get paid to make homemade play dough. I have never once questioned working with children. For every bad moment that there is, there are a million great moments hiding right in one child’s smile.
Maybe it’s just because I get along well with children, but I honestly think working with children is the most rewarding job. Having an effect on a person’s future and their current happiness is an amazing feeling. I know some people will still insist I’m crazy and that children are evil, but I’ve gotten the best lesson from my job: be to children what you wish people had been to you.
