RTotD: The Teacher-Child Vicissitude

I learned a new word today: vicissitude (/vəˈsisəˌt(y)o͞od/). It means an unexpected and unwelcome change in circumstances. The word is fitting for my recent random thought. This week our daughter is losing another teacher to a change in circumstances. It’s unexpected and only unwelcome because they are a damn good teacher and those are hard to come by. As a parent it can be difficult to help your child navigate unexpected change, especially when your child refers to said teacher as “one of my favorite teachers”. It’s already difficult to quell their emotions at the end of each school year, but that is an expected turn of events. However the teacher-child vicissitude is one of the harder life lessons children have to endure early.

Social Media Can Be Helpful

As ugly and condescending as social media can be, it has its merits. Using programs such as Facebook to keep in touch with these teachers makes it easier to help your child accept change. It also allows us to continue to share our child’s development and growth. After all, these are the teachers that helped to influence said growth and development.

I’ve been reluctant to “friend” my child’s teachers because I didn’t know if it crosses some kind of parent-teacher separation of concerns barrier. I feel like I’m more encouraged to do it anyway. If the teacher isn’t comfortable with that kind of social commitment, I’m fine with that. This is a new area where I’m still feeling like a bit of a newb parent. When I was growing up I never saw my parents socializing with my teachers. Whenever we would encounter a teacher outside the classroom, it felt as though the exchange was kept professional. However that was the 90’s; the world is different now.

If you’re a teacher, I’m curious about your thoughts on this. Also, for what its worth, thank you again to all those amazing, under appreciated teachers (both school and daycare). I couldn’t do what you do!

On a final note …

Yea, you know who you are. 🙂