Podcast: Download

Subscribe: RSS

Are you sending your child to school for the first time?  What are your thoughts, feelings and concerns?

Or do you remember when sent your child to school for the first time?  Do you remember how it felt?

It would be such a gift to all parents, to have a letter from her child’s teacher similar to the one below. Leonie Roberts is a teacher from the United Kingdom whose poem “Dear Parent” appears in the collection of poems, “A Teacher’s Insight: Teaching inspired poetry.”

Let’s pray that all teachers would say the comforting words to each parent as, Leonie has done for us here, by agreeing to reprint her poem.

Dear Parent,

I understand that you are scared
to wave your child goodbye
and leave him in a teacher’s hands
don’t worry if you cry!

I’m used to weeping parents
It’s hard to leave I know. 
But it’s time to share him (just a bit)
To help him learn and grow.

Let me reassure you
That I’ll give your child my best
I’ll wipe his tears, soothe his fears 
And change his dirty vest!

If your darling child is full of cold
I’ll blow their nose all day
Just like you, I’ll care for them
In a special way.

I’ll treat him like I would my own
I’ll catch him from a fall and
If there is ANY problem 
I’ll be sure to tell you all.

It’s true he’ll grow to love us
They’ll talk of school a lot
It doesn’t mean they hate you
And that you should lose the plot!

I’ll tell you a secret . . .
That when your child is here
They talk to me as much of you
Of this please have no fear.

You’ll always be their mother
Whilst teachers come and go
To them you are their number one
This I truly know.

Soon you’ll see some changes 
In your little girl or boy
They’ll become more independent 
And to see this, it’s a joy!

I’ll teach them all I have to give
To share, climb and to write
But to you they safely will return
To tuck them in at night.

With love from a teacher…

(Oh dear, we might just have something in our eye… <sob>)

I hope that Leonie’s poem makes you feel better.

Editor’s note: “Dear Parent” is reprinted with the author’s permission. For more information on Leonie Roberts, visit her website. Leonie’s new book, Storytime: My Colorful Chameleon, (appropriate for ages 4 – 7) publishes in November of 2017.