Patience, Kindness and the Child Who Needed Them Most

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When I send my kids off to school in the morning I never worry that they will fall through the cracks, that they will be left behind, that they will in some way not feel included in their daily tasks. I have learned over the years that their Catholic school has become a safe environment where the kids have an extended family. It’s part of their village.

What I do think about as I send them off is if their teacher will have the patience and kindness to continue to make the students feel loved, accepted and appreciated, especially kids like my oldest who tend to act out when they fall behind. To have the strength to teach 20+ students while somedays I struggle with my four. All the Catholic school teachers at our kid’s school are amazing and have been a huge part of who they are today, but Ms. D showed us repeatedly that she doesn’t just talk the talk, she truly walks the walk.

Patience, Kindness and the Child Who Needed Them Most

My oldest son is what I will nicely describe as a class clown. It’s not so much that he is crazy funny but he acts out when he doesn’t understand what is being taught. It can become a vicious cycle of him not only disrupting the other students but also not learning more thus falling further behind.

Ms. D. was Darius’ grade two teacher. She saw him as more than a trouble-maker who would disrupt class and worked to determine what the underlying issues were. When he didn’t understand, she would patiently spend time with him to catch him up.

More than just teach her students she took the time to really get to know them and see what makes them tick. What made them sad and what made them oh so happy. Her kindness shone through and she became someone they could be honest and vulnerable with. She was exactly what my son needed then and someone he still turns to now.

Ms. D. took my son’s love and knowledge of technology to make him feel needed and appreciated. When it was time to get the projector out she let him do it. When it was time to hand out the iPads she tasked it to him. She asked him questions about tech I am almost positive she knew the answers to so that he could be proud of what he knew and in turn, proud of himself. She lifted him up.

In it all, there were still moments when he would act out. He was still very much a child and she taught him probably one of the most important lessons to date, forgiveness. Time and time again she forgave him and continued to support him in being a better person. He carries that lesson with him now forgiving others.

Life Lessons Taught by our Ontario’s Catholic Teachers

Last year she took a boy that was on the verge of breaking and carefully put all the pieces back together. She valued him and in turn he valued himself. She helped him become a helper and in turn he became more engaged in a positive way in his classroom. He took the values his Catholic teacher taught him and is using them in real day-to-day life.

We were of the belief that she was giving him special treatment until we realized she treats all her students with the same patient kindness, currently including our daughter Emma.

More With Ontario’s Catholic Teachers

To find out more on how the Ontario’s Catholic Teachers bring value-based lessons to their student’s head on over to their website.

Need some more inspiration. Check out how a Catholic education goes further and truly become Lessons for Life with some of these inspiring stories of community engagement and inclusion.

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This post is part of the YummyMummyClub and Ontario's Catholic Teachers #CatholicTeachers sponsored program. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors

Aneta Alaei

Aneta is a Toronto-based mom of four that loves a good meal, great company, and learning something new. In her free time, you can find her trying to keep yet another plant alive.

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15 Comments

Treen Goodwin
June 10, 2017 / 3:56 pm

She sounds like a wonderful women , great teacher that’s for sure , great read thanks for sharing 🙂
Laura Chorney
June 13, 2017 / 10:52 am

I can understand the struggles in the classroom as both my boys are ADHD and one also has Tourettes so school is a constant struggle. They have had some amazing teachers over the years. My youngest daughter is a different story so far school just clicks. Crossing fingers she has an easier time with school.
I could never deal with what teachers deal with and really appreciate all they do.
PS my dad and sister are both teachers.
Calvin F.
June 14, 2017 / 2:09 pm

Very nice, a teachers support goes a long way.
olivia clow
June 15, 2017 / 5:16 am

I. Love your page
Corry L.
June 15, 2017 / 7:00 pm

Reminds me of my Grade 1 teacher. She was more than just a teacher to me, she was like a grandmother.
kristen visser
June 19, 2017 / 4:39 pm

My oldest daughter has an EA who is always by her side and her name is also Mrs. D 🙂 my daughter is autistic and she has learned SO much from Mrs. D & how to be more independent. Best thing that could have happened to Ella was being paired with her
Debbie White Beattie
June 19, 2017 / 9:41 pm

You really have to give teachers more than just credit because they take these hyper little people and with great patience and caring they give kids the knowledge that has to get them through the rest of their lives. They don’t make millions or even hundreds of thousands and they don’t medals but for the little they get they do so much whether it’s catholic or public schools TEACHERS ARE HEROES !!!!!!
AD
June 20, 2017 / 9:23 pm

Mrs. D sounds like a great teacher; so important to have a teacher or teachers who inspire and instill that sense of self and confidence in our kids.
Kristi F
June 20, 2017 / 11:09 pm

Great teachers make lasting impressions in our lives. She sounds like a wonderful woman and teacher.
Nate
June 24, 2017 / 8:46 pm

I have had many good teachers that have helped me
Shirleyp
June 27, 2017 / 11:58 am

Its very important to have such great teachers. They play a huge role in a childs life
Elizabeth Matthiesen
June 27, 2017 / 3:53 pm

Teachers deserve more compensation for all they do for our children. One of my sons is a teacher in England and when it’s time for report cards, he and his fiancee (a teacher too) are often up to 3 or 4 am getting them done on time. I have 7 children myself but I’m positive that I couldn’t do what teachers do with a class of 20 or more. Considering that they are shaping the future of this wonderful country through the knowledge and abilities they impart to our children they deserve more.
LeslieC
July 1, 2017 / 6:26 pm

Teachers can literally make or break a child’s future and focus is always on the bad experiences that some amazing teachers go unrecognized but those are the ones who do it because they truly care!
kathy downey
August 12, 2017 / 10:14 am

I have had many good teachers that have helped me over the years but i have also had many bad Teachers and i still wonder why they taught….
Janet M
August 15, 2017 / 6:17 pm

She certainly is a wonderful teacher for so many reasons.