I have read many folk who define themselves by their jobs (paid or unpaid) and I find that sad.
I am more than a sum of all my roles.
Mother, teacher, lover, housekeeper, maid, cook, Education director, scout leader, committee member, bookkeeper, reader, writer.
Whichever task of the day I am on, I could make a title for.
But it wouldn't change who I am.
If I drop a job, such as finances I would still be me.
If I take on a new role, such as plumber, I would still be me.
Though at the heart of it all I am a teacher, just as much as my son is a math-magician, you can't change that by changing our jobs.
So how do I know I am a teacher? I constantly do it.
I don't sing 'this little piggie' (not that there is anything wrong with it) I talk about "Tickling Toes" that start with "T" you have Ten of them!
I don't make 'airplane noises' (not that there is anything wrong with it) when I want my baby to open up, I make animal noises "cows say Moooooo" (or letter ones, A says AAAA)
I don't listen when placement tests tell me 'this is not a teaching opportunity' YES IT IS! Everything is a teaching opportunity! Whether you use it or not, ALL of life is a series of teachable moments.
Just as my son sees all numbers as things to be manipulated and played with, I see all life as opportunity to share.
So yeah, I do define myself as a teacher, but not because I home-school, nor any other role I fill. I define myself as a teacher, because in 20 some years it has proven to be the thing I am best at.
But you know...I am still more than that, you would miss a large part of me if all you looked at was my teaching habits.
Just as you would miss a large part of GMC if all you looked at was his math ability.
How do you define yourself
February 4th, 2009 at 07:44 pm
February 4th, 2009 at 08:03 pm 1233777799
i guess myself, i am just me. i am what i like and don't like. i am my tastes and my knowledge. i am my spirit and my eagerness to learn. i am my friendships, i am my enemies. i am my fears and my bravery.
February 4th, 2009 at 08:06 pm 1233777993
But many, many have not found theirs. Therefore the changes in college majors, the undeclared, the unfinished degrees. Even when embarking and pursuing a career, or other path in life, it may be for subconscious reasons (to fulfill their parent, for example) and not the real thing.
Mark Twain said "The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time."
anyway, I remember in 5th grade things being so clear and simple. It was 1969, soon would be started the EPA, and what was the problem to cleaning up the environment? Just take no more than you need, use up what you have and clean up after yourself. That was my calling.
February 4th, 2009 at 08:20 pm 1233778841
February 5th, 2009 at 03:46 am 1233805607
February 5th, 2009 at 01:11 pm 1233839476
And I admit, it's hard not to... for men and jobs anyway. Because we know that, ultimately, so much of the rest of our life rides on our income potential.
Of course, after a certain point, I do agree that there is no sense in being obsessed about it. It is as you say, only a part of us, but it doesn't define us.