Valentine's day is for teachers... AND teaching...

So yesterday I was really pumped about the big V day despite the single status mainly because I knew the kids would make the day super awesome. AND I WAS RIGHT. The valentines cards made for each other and for the teachers were adorable and awesome and so incredibly sweet. Except when it isn't. One valentine I received really gave me reason to pause. It said, "Ms. Emily, I have never known a teacher to be mean and strict at the same time!" Oh yeah, with the exclamation point and all. Now honestly, I was a little shocked mainly because I'm not mean. Seriously, I could be really mean but I'm really nice to these kids, partially because I still feel like we barely know each other and partly because I am a little afraid of the parents. That's totally honest. So when I got this I was like WTF. Trevor said that I should just take it in stride and understand that it is a complement somehow... But that didn't sit well with me. Because if we were totally honest, it did hurt my feelings, even if it was just a little. So I had a conversation with the girl who sent it to me... A " I just want to give you a little feed back on your valentine, it hurt my feelings a little bit. I'm not sure you meant to do that but it did come out that way" kind of conversation. Thinking we would move on from there the end of school came and I was ready to have my "single girl at home" valentines when the phone rang. It was the girl's mother. She wanted to talk about the whole valentine issue because it appeared as though the girl had not shared the whole story of what was on the valentine so she was up in arms. When informed it appeared as though this would be an unintentional teaching moment for this girl. I guess the girl was afraid of repercussions despite my saying that I just wanted to give her feed back and that was all. She felt so awful that she wanted to write me a new valentine which I was surprised at..... End Part One

Part Two: is that the next day, the girl seemed a little tentative of me. I was trying to wipe the slate and move past the whole thing but it seemed she wasn't quite ready. Knowing she was going to give me the apology valentine without pushing it I was, I must admit, a little apprehensive and ready for it! Finally after snack recess I was handed a scroll like letter with a red ribbon tied around it. I waited to read it, respecting her need for it to be a moment between us. When I read the letter I was actually a little impressed and still kind of confused. The letter read: "Ms. Emille Im sorry the valentine i gave you was so negative. sometimes im in deep thought and end up writing things i dont mean to. I meant to say strict (as in firm) and still fun and nice. i was very confused when you said wyou were offended (because i thought i had said firm and still fun and nice) and told my mom what had happened and she called mr. trevor, he told my mom i had wrote strict and mean. right now or any other time ive upset someone i go home and hid in a corner crying, because my goal is the EXACT opposite of what i sent to you. im really sorry about what came out in my writing and hope that your velntines day is still the way you expected and that it wasn't a bit worse after reading the negative and mistaken note i gave you. signed by the girl with a heart"

Part three: Today(Thursday) was GREAT.... It was like we had completely moved past the issue, and in fact had formed a deeper bond... So I'm seeing the whole thing as an awesome success and recognizing that sometimes being totally honest/ transparent with the kids is the best thing... It feels totally scary and terrifying but it's SO worth it because in this case, the girl now knows that I am in her corner. So alls well that ends well in love and war and teaching ;-)