We try to guide our students.
We try to give them the best advice we can.
We try to show them the ways.
We love and laugh with them
We get angry with them and cry with them too.
Some days, it’s not enough.
The impulsive behavior wins out.
The hormones win out.
The inability to see behind the next minute wins out.
We pick them up.
Dust them off.
And come back the next day.
Trying again to guide them the best we can.
The Life of a Conflicted Teacher 
March 8, 2016 at 3:00 pm
Oh boy. You must be a middle or a high school teacher. I just can’t imagine dealing with hormones like that when “I will not be your friend anymore” drives me crazy. 😉 I am so grateful for my children’s teachers who never gave up on them.
PS I love your blog title. 🙂
March 8, 2016 at 3:24 pm
🙂 Today has been a humdinger of many different emotions and actions for my students. Tomorrow, we’ll be back, and do it again! 🙂
March 8, 2016 at 3:03 pm
We’ve all been there! I love the reflection I see in this piece and how you realize that you won’t always be successful. There will be days where you want to give up. But you don’t, because what we do matters. beautiful yet simple post.
March 8, 2016 at 3:15 pm
We do give it our best shot and some days, it’s just not enough. We dust ourselves off and come back for more! It’s all we can do! 🙂
March 8, 2016 at 3:19 pm
Some days might be like the movie Groundhog Day, but you always come back and try again. That’s what makes a difference. Had to laugh at the hormones win out. How true1
March 8, 2016 at 3:28 pm
I love Groundhog Day! That’s a favorite movie of mine and it’s seems to be so fitting at this level! I keep coming back, and so do they!! 🙂
March 8, 2016 at 3:19 pm
Being a teacher is hard. You’re a counselor, nurse, parent, friend, teacher, and more. We wear so many hats, and we are juggling so many balls at the same time. Things don’t also go as planned. Kids make mistakes. Teachers who care (like you) take it to heart. Just remember that you are making a difference. You matter in the lives of your kids.
March 8, 2016 at 4:02 pm
On days like this, you wonder about how much of a difference we make. However, I’ll be back at it again tomorrow, smiling and keeping the real thing, the real thing! 🙂
March 8, 2016 at 4:37 pm
Great reflection! I loved the line “dust them off” — what a great visual reminder to forget yesterday and be present each new day. I should write that on my desk to remind me…
March 9, 2016 at 8:46 am
Thank you, Kari! It’s nice to see another friendly face around here! I appreciate your comment! As I was picking up the pieces of yesterday, that statement just seemed fitting! 🙂
March 8, 2016 at 10:31 pm
Great little poem about the realities of teaching. Your students are lucky to have you.
March 9, 2016 at 8:44 am
Well, I’m sure a few of them aren’t feeling that lucky, but thank you all the same! 🙂
March 8, 2016 at 10:33 pm
Thinking of a new tomorrow. Even in trying again anew, you’re a mentor to these kids. They’re fortunate to have you!
Thank you!
March 9, 2016 at 8:44 am
It’s all we can do to just go home, reflect, relax, and come back the next day and give it another shot. I owe that to them each and every day. If I can’t do that, maybe it’s time to find another job! 🙂
March 9, 2016 at 11:28 am
I hear ya..