Payday

Teachers aren't in their profession for the money. We are in it for the real paydays. These don't happen every two weeks. They sometimes don't happen every year. BUT, when they happen they are usually big and it makes all of the time in between worthwhile. These paydays happen when you least expect it, usually from the kid you least expect it from and usually on the day that you need it the most.

Today was that day for me. If you have talked to me in the past few months you probably know that this year has been pretty crappy. I have had to deal with some lame politics and serious personality clashes which have made me not like a lot about my job. In fact, this morning I was wondering how I was going to make it though the day.

After school, this boy named Bob* (name changed to protect the innocent and more importantly to protect my booty) who is the only boy in my child development class came in to check out his electronic baby for the week. Bob started telling me all about his childhood in which his father was physically and emotionally abusive to him and even still was emotionally abusive to him. Bob was very open and honest and I could tell really wanted to talk about it. After some time of chatting about his tragic childhood he packed up his things and left. A few moments later, Bob came back into the classroom and said "Miss Castle, I just want to let you know why I am in Child Development. Most people think that it is weird that I am the only boy who is in this class. But, I wanted to take it because one day I want to be a Dad and I don't want to be the kind of Dad that mine was to me. I want to be better. You are my teacher and I just thought that you should know that. I already feel that I am going to be a better Dad because of the things that I have learned in class." Ah..... Cha Ching! Payday! $$$$

Bob, thank you for helping me see why I put up with all of the other junk that I don't like. Thanks for my payday. This paycheck is going into my savings account and should last a long while!