HE Is Always There For Us!

This last week was a particularly rough one for me. It was Parent-Teacher Conferences...which is VERY wearing on teachers....and I was NOT looking forward to it, considering how some of the parents at this school react towards Report Cards...and EVERYTHING in general.

I also have quite a few "naughty" children whose issues run quite deep. Needless to say, I was DREADING it AND trying to keep my stress level down as much as possible. I didn't quite succeed in that area...as my throat became more and more sore. I became more sick as the week went on (and I am still trying to recover....)...but that is not the point of this post.

Last year during BOTH sessions of Conferences...as well as the first one this year, I have had either my principal OR the assistant principal sit in with me when I knew I would be dealing with particularly nasty situations OR parents. THIS week, I was asked if they were needed and I nervously replied, "No." I was not aware of any scary situations in which I would need their involvement.

I felt at peace when my first Conference began and was amazed at how smoothly it went. They ALL began to go like that! When the "scary" parents who had given me trouble in the past would enter the room, I would try to break the ice by using humor. I was able to get every one of them laughing...which then helped lighten the mood...and even those went OK!!

One parent tried to argue with me about a certain score...and when I STUCK to my story...she finally realized that her child had lied in order to get out of work. I think her eyes were opened a little that night....as I witnessed her give her student the "disapproving glare" as they walked out of the room.

There is a set of parents...who happen to think their child is PERFECT! I absolutely adore this mother, but I just can't understand how she is able to make up excuses for her child's shortcomings and be completely BLIND to the areas that her child could definitely improve upon! They ignored my suggestions during the last Conferences, attributing it to the fact that their child is SO much better behaved than the other children. (That is not saying much....since this class can be pretty unruly.)

Well, when these two parents entered the room, I felt like someone was putting words in my mouth. I was able to speak clearly and firmly....I was able to not only highlight their child's strengths...but also point out the areas that REALLY needed improvement (especially in the behavior department). The words I was using...aren't ones I usually use....and I found that BOTH parents were nodding their heads in agreement! They quit arguing with me that their child needed higher scores, that their child was the "victim" when it came to peers, etc. They finally understood how this little one was IN the classroom. The dad even thanked me for explaining it so clearly!

I know my Savior was watching out for me this week! I really don't think I could've had such a successful week without the sweet Spirit whispering into my ear the words all those parents needed to hear.

I started second-guessing myself...wondering if I really DID have help on high...until my Dad called me today. He mentioned that he had been thinking about me a LOT lately and was just wondering if everything was OK. He let me know that he had been putting my name in the temple as well. I think that was what I needed to hear. My faith had been wavering a little and I now KNOW that I was for sure being watched over.

I usually blog about the fun things Jamie & I do, the cute things our pets do, and the crafts I make... I need to remember to slow down and capture the little moments that mold us into the people that we are. I wouldn't be half the woman I am today if it wasn't for my Savior! I fall short in many areas, but I know that HE believes in me and that is enough for me.

P.S. I love you, Dad!