Don’t answer just yet!
Here’s the sitch: I love kids. I always have. I started babysitting when I was 11.(I’m 31, and I don’t have any human children of my own yet- just feline ones) Until last week, I was working as a pre-k teacher but I quit because of some health problems, and I don’t like the policies of the school, plus I couldn’t STAND my boss (a topic for another day, in the Pit).
But I already miss the children. I love being with pre-k aged children, I love how they view the world, I love how they think, I love how innocent they are. I love being part of their learning process- helping them learn to write their name, and they’re stuck on a letter that is difficult for them, and they say, “I can’t do it”, and convincing them to try, and then they ARE able to write it, and praising them and seeing how proud they feel. A few of the children that were in my class were at that stage where they were just starting to read, one of the boys recognises the whole class’s written names, a couple of them can write “I love you” with no help, and one of them wrote some words out, just off the top of his head, the other day. I can’t help but get excited when they do that type of stuff, because it’s the first step towards reading.
Another situation: I was over at a friend’s house, and she got stuck on the phone for a while, so her daughters (aged 6 and 8) asked me to play with them. We went into the one girl’s room, and played Twister for a while, then we started palying Junior Monopoly. And I was having fun. Later, their mom came in and was all apologetic, “I’m so sorry you got stuck watching the kids,etc.” But I truly didn’t mind. And I have always had this innate ability to talk to kids on their level and understand them. And I love being around them. Is that weird? Maybe when I have a couple of my own kids, the bloom will be off the rose, so to speak. A friend of mine said, “Maybe working with children is your gift”, and I’m really starting to think so. I just feel funny because most of the people that I know (the other teachers I worked with and the people who have kids) don’t seem to have the same level of enjoyment that I do. I mean, it wasn’t always fun. When you’re stuck inside for 3 days because of rain and you have 18 4-year-olds who are getting bored with the indoor toys and are grumpy and fighting with each other because they need to get outside and run, that’s when you feel like tearing your hair out. Or going home and having a stiff drink.
I just feel like I’m strange sometimes because I don’t mind being around kids, I enjoy being with them, whether in a teaching capacity or as a friend, and I can’t wait to start having my own (hubby and I are trying).
So what do you think? Am I weird?
Yes, you’re weird. Everyone’s weird. Find one “normal person” and they will be weird by virtue of not being weird.
Myself, I love cooking and don’t see it as work. Other people say 'Oh yeah, my SO was gone for a week and I go stuck cooking for myself and it was soo much work!"
or
“Wow, you make your own bread! That must be a lot of work!”
When you love something, it’s not work. It’s creating.
And if you get paid to do what you love, then you’re basically on vacation all the time. Do what you love. Consequences and what other people be damned.
You’ve found something that you love and that fulfills you, and you worry that you’re weird? My goodness, we should all be so lucky. I hope eventually I’ll be as weird as you.
Hm…weird is such a tricky word. Technically, I think this would count as weird, because it is different from the majority of people. However, I hate to call something so nice as enjoying children weird. Special or gifted fit much better.
Yes.
No. I wish I had such comfort and ease around kids!
I love children and have always loved children.
but once you have your own - you find that you love YOUR children.
It’s also different when your children are with you all the time.
I think it’s wonderful though and not at all weird.
And here I thought that moggy was trying to shoulder her way onto my turf!!!
FWIW, My ex-wife teaches 1st grade, and loves it and is very very very good at it. Never be afraid to utilize your gifts-and the fact that you enjoy it too is a big plus.