Relationship Reflection

Many people have come in and out of my life.  I have some of the most wonderful memories of relationships that I had with friends in elementary school, friends in junior high school, friendships I had in high school and college, dance friends, work friends, and family.  I have enjoyed reconnecting with some of those friends through social media and reminiscing.

I am extremely blessed to have some relationships in which I have found love, trust, support, strength, and a whole lot more.  Each of these relationships is unique and such an inmportant part of who I am.  I'd like to share a little about each of my relationships.

Michael and I

I have known my husband since I was sixteen years old.  In fact, he first asked me out when I was sixteen...I said, "No."  He didn't give up on trying to ask me out over the following six years until I finally said, "Yes."  We have been married for almost twenty-two years now.  Our journey together has definitely had good times and bad, sickness and health, but we work together and support each other along the way.  We have seen each other at our worst and best.  We fight, we argue, we laugh, we love.

Thomas and I

I was blessed with my son, Thomas, nineteen years ago.  I love him so very much!  What a privilege it has been to be his mom.  He was born with Spina Bifida, but he hasn't let it define who he is.  Seeing the world through his eyes has been amazing.  To say that I have enjoyed his teenage years would not be totally true!  The emotional ups and downs during the teen years can stress any parent out.  Thomas made me a mother for the first time and with that came unconditional love.  In my relationship with Thomas, I have grown to be more patient and have learned how strong I can be.  I have learned to be an advocate.  I was with him every step of his journey in the boy scouts from the time he started as a tiger until he earned his eagle.  I have also learned way more about Pokemon than I have ever wanted to know!

Theresse and I

I was blessed with my daughter, Theresse, almost fifteen years ago.  I love her so very much!  She taught me that you can unconditionally love more than one child with all of your heart and soul.  I shared my love of dance with her and she embraced it with a passion.  Watching her dance brings me such joy.  Theresse is a fierce friend to others and shows compassion and kindness to others.  She has an amazing spirit.  I get to share "girl time" moments with her and other favorites like books and movies.

My parents, Charles and Carol

My relationship with my parents has been one of the biggest blessings in my life.  I have learned so much from each of them and along the way I have introduced them to new ideas and experiences as well.  One thing that they have always done is love and support me throughout my life.  Even when I made choices that they would not have made they were there to listen and help in any way they could.  Dance was my passion and not something either one of them really knew about.  They have grown to love and appreciate the art form now.

Heather and I

I feel the term "best friend" has become over-used in today's society.  Heather has been my best friend for over forty years.  We met when we were four years old and about to start Kindergarten.  Our fathers were in the Navy and we happened to live across the street from each other in Navy housing.  We grew up together.  Playing with Barbie dolls, making cardboard box forts, swimming in the lake, sleep overs, girl scouts...we did it all!  Our friendship survived long distances when our fathers were transferred to other states (back when we kept in touch by writing actual letters!).  Our relationship has taught me many things, but most of all trust and true friendship.

Ryanne, Jezzamyn, and I at a work function.

Ryanne started dancing at my studio when she was twelve and Jezzamyn started dancing at my studio when she was thirteen.  I taught them to dance, cheered them as the performed, and had the pleasure of watching them each grow into beautiful young women.  I trained them to teach dance to ages 3-18.  After graduating from high school, both girls decided to pursue their education in the early childhood field.  And, then both joined my preschool teaching team at my full-time day job.  I expereinced the "teen years" with these two before my own children became teenagers.  Seeing each of them blossom into young early childhood professionals and mentoring them along the way has been such an honor.  They have taught me to relax, have fun, and not sweat the small stuff.

Hmmm...a little math!

People often scoff or laugh when I say that I am a head teacher in a preschool classroom.  They basically believe that I am a glorified babysitter.  Even parents say things such as, "Well, when my child goes to real school with real teachers..."  Um, what?!  The minimum requirement for my job is a four year degree in early childhood education.  Yet, the starting salary for my position (at the agency where I am employed) is $26,426.  Compared to the salary for an assistant manager at McDonald's - $31,464 (http://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/McDonald-s-Salaries-E432.htm).

I'd like to share a little math I came across:

 

Teachers’ hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or 10 months a year! It’s time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do - baby sit! We can get that for less than minimum wage.

Teachers should only be paid less than minimum wage. They are nothing more than glorified babysitters. And we should pay them the same way. 

That’s right. Let’s give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to 3:00 PM

with 45 min. off for lunch and plan — that equals 6 1/2 hours).

Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children.

Now how many do they teach in day…maybe 30? So that’s $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations.

LET’S SEE…. That’s $585 X 180= $105,300 peryear. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries).

What about those special education teachers and the ones with Master’s degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an hour. That would be $8 X 6 1/2 hours X 30 children

X 180 days = $280,800 per year.

Wait a minute — there’s something wrong here! There sure is!

And it ain't teacher pay. 

The average teacher’s salary (nation wide) is $50,000. $50,000/180 days = $277.77/per day/30 students=$9.25/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student–a very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even EDUCATE your kids!) (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=219x32012)