We just never know what kind of impression we are making on our kids. Just when we have decided kids are not aware of what is happening outside their own lives and dramas, they do or say something that reveals the truth: they see more than we think.
For example, there are times when kids can be…..challenging…..to deal with. Whether it is at home or at school, kids can be tough. When I am in my classroom, I work to maintain a calm attitude, especially when the kids are at their most challenging. I usually plant a smile on my face and count to ten…or twenty, depending on just how challenging the situation is. Usually, my silence gets their attention very quickly and I am able to move on. I had no idea what kind of impression I was making until recently. I had the need to count and smile silently, and I heard a student whisper loudly, “Look, she’s got that weird smile again. We better be quiet.” I admit that at this point, my smile became less forced as I had to stifle a chuckle. I also decided my smile must need some work.
I am also amazed by how observant kids are. They often seem so wrapped up in their own worlds, it is hard to imagine they notice anything else around them. I have been fighting a sinus infection, and as a result there were a couple of days when I just was not myself. I also had pounding headaches. I thought I was doing well to continue on without letting on to the kids that I was hurting. I was wrong. Those darlings noticed.
“Mrs. Moore, are you ok?”
“Yes, I am fine. Why?”
“You look like you have a headache.”
“Oh. Well, I do have a bit of a headache.” (as the jackhammers pound away in my skull)
“Did we give it to you?”
Yes, I laughed. I also assured the student my headache was not the result of dealing with any students, but was sinuses. I was rewarded with a hug to make me feel better.
My kids at home are the same way. I have been putting in some very long hours lately, and when I get home I am pretty whipped. Again, I thought my tiredness would go, for the most part, unnoticed by my kids.
“Mom, are you ok?”
“Yes, I am. Why?”
“No reason.” Turning to the other children, “She said she’s fine
Kids are the best tonic for tiredness at times. They can also be the best cure when you are having a rough day. It just makes you feel good when a student brings you a note that says, “You rock!” or “You are the best teacher EVER!”. And they somehow seem to bring those notes just when you need it the most. A head suddenly resting on my shoulder and the words, “You look like you need a hug, Mrs. Moore.” are music to my ears and salve for my spirit. When I get home, little arms around my neck and a foot massage from my eldest daughter go a long way to rejuvenating me.
We make all kinds of impressions on people around us all the time. Kids, however, are like little emotion detectors. You may think you are fooling them, but you are not. They can pick up on unhappiness, excitement, anger, and insincerity faster than most adults. It is good to remind ourselves once in a while to consider the impression we are making. One day these same kids will be demonstrating what they have learned from us. I wonder if any of them will develop a “weird smile”?
Christine Moore currently holds a degree from Howard Payne University and recently earned her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. She is now working on her Ph.D. in Educational Technology. Married with four children who attend Brownwood schools, Christine teaches 6th grade reading in Brownwood and has been working in education at various levels for the past 15 years. Christine welcomes your questions and comments and would love to hear from you!
