Which Teachers Should You Thank This Week?

This is National Teacher Appreciation week. 

No one is born knowing everything, or with the ability to figure everything out on their own. We rely heavily on the teaching of others throughout our lives.

When you think of a teacher, who comes to mind?  Is it your favorite elementary school teacher?  A
college professor? Your music teacher?  A high school coach? A friend who just taught you to knit or to play a song on the guitar?  We are taught many different things by many different people, all the time.

Our lives are heavily influenced by people who educate. The very first might be the lactation specialist, who helps teach a baby to obtain its first nutrients. The last might be the nurse who assists a family with the steps necessary to fulfill a dying patient's organ donation wishes. Throughout our lives, we learn from the authors of books, from formally educated teachers, and from friends.   Parents are often our most influential teachers  - I am still learning from mine. And when we become parents, we realize that our children have much to teach us.

I am grateful to my many teachers.  Elementary school teachers, such as the one who taught me to be brave, when I was separated from my twin sister all day for the first time.  High school teachers, like the one who made me realize I was good at math - and the one who taught me to write.  A college professor who not only taught me chemistry, but mentored me in my career choices. Piano teachers. Riding instructors. A head nurse, who worked with me and two other brand new graduate nurses, and somehow quickly turned us into competent clinicians. Bloggers who have written tutorials, without which I could never have set up this website! So many teachers - all with a goal of making me better than I was and teaching me something I didn't know. For all of them, and all the ones I have not mentioned, I am grateful.

I loved being a stay-at-home mom, but on my oldest child's first day of preschool I breathed a bit of a sigh of relief.  I realized that the day-to-day burden of teaching my children everything they needed to know was no longer just on my husband and me. It was nice knowing we would have the help of all of my children's future teachers, filling in the gaps and teaching them all that we did not know.  I am grateful not just for the teachers that I have had, but those who have educated my children as well!

It is fitting that there is a week set aside when we recognize the people who have devoted their lives to teaching others. Be sure to thank a teacher this week - and every week!

Who was your most influential teacher - and why?

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!