Cheerleaders by Choice

Aunt Jan has been an incredible cheerleader for my children. She was my mother-in-law’s best friend and has essentially served as another grandmother for the last 18 years. She made an active decision to love my kids. She held them as babies, took them to the local fair, read books with them, laughed on alpine coasters with them, and much more. When my mother-in-law died at a very young age, Aunt Jan stepped in and invested even more of her time and energy in them.

What’s also amazing is that she has a busy, full life with her own children and grandchildren. She didn’t need to fill a void. She chose to love my kids as if they were her own family, and she continues to do so.

Every year, teachers who have busy lives outside of school make the same choice. They choose to believe the best about their students. They take time to notice new shoes and ask about soccer games. I know several teachers who actually go to their students’ games from time to time to show them how much they care. Teachers celebrate the little micro moments when a student takes an academic risk or invites a classmate to play during recess. They laugh at the jokes kids tell them, whisper words of encouragement, and celebrate individual wins. They give the best of themselves to students regardless of what challenges they may or may not face outside of the classroom.

Teachers are often one of the greatest gifts children experience beyond their direct family unit. I believe that every teacher has a little Aunt Jan in them and it is a superpower. Actively choosing to love students and cheer them on is one of the greatest intangible gifts that teachers give to students. Most teachers do this naturally and rarely make time to reflect and give themselves credit for all the ways they show up for their students.

When was the last time you took a moment to reflect and delight in all the ways you cheer your students on?