These are my thoughts on Dirty Dishes

If you have never listened to this song by Scotty McCreery, you should probably do that now. I've listened to this song more than a few times, but it came up on my iPod today on my way home from work and I just kept thinking about it and about my own kids. 

This year has not really been an easy one. I know it's only my second year so I don't have a lot to compare it to, but there have definitely been some rough moments for me this year. Some days I find myself complaining a little more than I should. But tonight was their big end-of-the-year performance and as I watched my kids tonight and realized that in a week and a half they won't be my kids anymore, I started thinking about all the things about my kids that I am grateful for. And even though "Dirty Dishes" is about a mom and not a school teacher, there are a few lines that sum up how I feel at the end of the day:

"I want to thank you Lord, for noisy children and slamming doors."

"Noisy kids are happy kids"

"Those long hours... means a job."

"For my little busy bees, beggin [teacher, teacher] can we please? Always wanting, needing, calling me. Loads of [homework] piling up, crayons crushed into the rug."

Even though some days I would give anything for 15 minutes of quiet in my classroom, I know that the noise means they are having fun, that they are enjoying being together and in my class. And while you can't actually 'slam' the door of our classroom, there are still plenty of other things getting slammed around (cupboard doors, books, chairs) and it means my kids have the resources they need to help them learn. When they all seem to be calling "Teacher, teacher!" at the same time, it means they trust me enough to ask for my help or that they love me enough to tell me about their day. A pile of papers to grade or projects to put in their portfolios means they are learning and growing and have created something they can be proud of. 

I can take all those hard days. And working through those hard days with my kids doesn't make me love them any less. In face, maybe it makes me love them more. And tonight I want to thank the Lord for Noisy Children.