Children of God

HAPPY NOVEMBER!! I can't believe the year is almost over, it's so crazy. 2017 cannot get here fast enough!! 

Something I've been thinking about a lot lately when I get frustrated with how things are going as I'm student teaching is that we're all brothers and sisters, and children of God. It's easy for me to get so frustrated with a kid for how they're acting/the work they're giving me (or not giving me). Not to their face of course, because I don't wanna make any kids cry haha, but I'll come home and rant to Jake or sit there and just let the angry thoughts stew in my head, and be ready to just throw in the towel. And when I get to that point, I try to remember that these kids are, first of all, KIDS. For me, 8th grade was 10 years ago. So it's been a while, but I can still think back and remember what I was like and the things I cared about when I was 13-14. And it helps me be more patient with my students. Second of all, remembering that they're children of God really helps me have patience. 

These kids, whether they're LDS or not, are important to Heavenly Father. He cares about them SO MUCH! And He put them in a place where they'd have the experiences they're having, because He knew they needed them to become the people they're supposed to be. And who knows, maybe I was given this position at Rigby Middle School because there is one kid who I'll really be able to touch, or who really needs ME. Not any old teacher, but me specifically. How cool is that? When I try to think about my career like that, and about the kids I'm working with, I become so much stronger. Not that the problems go away, because kids are kids and MAN OH MAN can they test your patience, but I feel like I'm capable of handling the challenges I'm presented with. 

I go through this cycle of frustration to exasperation to "spiritual patience" roughly 3-6 times a week, though, so don't think I'm some amazing person or anything haha. I have to "talk myself off the ledge" so to speak on a regular basis. I know it's worth it, though, because I feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be. I'm learning a ton and having some overwhelming and stressful experiences basically every day that I'm in the classroom, and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

What's a blog post without a

cute Zoe photo?!