saying goodbye after 31 years

Yesterday was my dads last day of teaching. He has retired now. The family went to the staff brunch at his school. It was really nice. He got up and said a speech. He was very emotional. I think I have only seen him cry maybe twice. So when he was crying so was I. He has been teaching for 31 years. That is a long time. He deserves to have a lot of rest. Everyone is going to miss him at the school. The math department gave him $ 500 for a trip to Disney world. That’s a lot of money. One Lady said they were hoping for more money (ridiculous that’s a lot of money). He can use it when we go and see my sister in Florida. He could go back and sub for some math teachers next year because some of the women are pregnant. That would be really nice for him. He was a very dedicated teacher. He would get up everyday at 5: 00 in the morning. He was usually the first at the school. He would stay after school to help kids. I know kids would come in for help the day before finals and he would help them. I told him he was to nice. I told that if they did not learn it the first time they probably won’t remember it now. He just wants to see then succeed. He was even known to have kids stay after the last day of school to have a chance to get a better grade. He said some very good things and I would like to share them.

Raising teenagers is like nailing jell-o to a tree.

When a student does something that touches a nerve: Hate the action, not the child. Count to 10 before doing anything. Try your best to figure out what is missing in their life to cause them to act this way. Most of the time it is a cry for help because they hurt. If you can find their motivation, you will have them on your side from that point on.

Success

At age 4 success is…not peeing in your pants.

 

At age 12 success is… having friends.

 

At age 16 success is… having a drivers license.

 

At age 20 success is…having sex.

 

At age 35 success is…having money.

 

At age 50 success is… having money.

 

At age 60 success is… having sex.

 

At age 70 success is… having a drivers license.

 

At age 75 success is… having friends.

 

At age 80success is… not peeing in your pants.

 

Well I hope that put a smile on you face Later days