Temporary Teacher

T E X A R K A N A M O N T H LY

Pearson, Peyton, Parker and Mindi Pruett

T E M P O R A R Y T E A C H E R BY MINDI PRUETT PHOTOS BY MOLLY KENDRICK TEMPORARY TEACHER

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T E X A R K A N A M O N T H LY

MOMS WEAR MANY HATS…

To all the CEOs out there, don’t ever doubt the power of amom trying to login to a zoomcall with spotty internet while

caregiver, chef, housekeeper, taxi driver, nurse … the titles are endless. We manage the household and make sure that everyone is content, fed, and where they need to be. Now we have added impromptu teacher to our ever-so-long-list of responsibilities. In an instant the looming question in the world became, “Has our government lost its mind? Are we fit to be the sole educators of our children?” Years ago, before I became a stay-at-home mom of three boys, I had the privilege of being part of the teaching profession as a kindergarten teacher. I had my hand in educating some amazing children. Every day these five- and six-year-olds greeted me with a smile and a hug. I taught them important skills like reading and writing stories and provided them with a nurturing environment while they were under my care. I ran my classroom like a well-oiled machine. Fast forward thirteen years to the present. Waking my own boys up to do their schoolwork before 10:00 am is a chore. I am lucky if I get even a grunt or a growl out of them. My two younger children have assignments that include learning the solar system, adverbs, and fractions, and I don’t even attempt to help my oldest with his work. The way they do math these days completely baffles me! As for me and my house, we are going to bring back the days of simply carrying the number to the next column. We are trying to survive. Balancing school work, laundry, cooking, and all the day-to-day functions of a household is challenging. Yet our teachers perform all of these tasks in their own homes, along with the responsibility of

educating children, youth, and young adults. I think everyone that has assumed the role of teacher to their children realizes what a major undertaking all of this is, even without the added stress of grading work, forming relationships with parents, and making sure that each child is flourishing in school. When all of this is said and done, I think we will have an extra level of appreciation for our teachers because they are some of the hardest working individuals around. Those of us who have taken over the schooling at home can attest to the challenges our teachers face every day. When the world opens back up and life returns to the new normal, please keep this realization close to your heart. Give those teachers a hug, or better yet keep your social distance and give them a fist bump or an elbow. cooking breakfast and teaching contractions all at the same time. That is amulti-tasker.The world should be scared of her.” —KP, temporary teacher/mother of 2

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T E M P O R A R Y T E A C H E R