20 things you wouldn't typically be thankful for as a teacher...but I am

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all the things you're thankful for...right?  I could do the usual, I'm thankful for such loving students, winning that technology grant, being fortunate enough to have a job in this crazy economy.  But I'm going to do it different this year...I'm going to look at the positive of some of the harder parts of teaching.

1. I'm thankful for having that tough kiddo who at times, makes me want to scream and pull my hair out, because he is teaching me patience and compassion.
2. I'm thankful for that parent who never seems to think I'm good enough because they have taught me to be more open-minded and patient.
3. I'm thankful for that kiddo who always forgets to get her reading log signed because it allows me more time to work with her and give her time to have that extra practice that she isn't getting at home.
4. I'm thankful for paper-copy jams because it has taught me to be a master paper-jam fixer!!!
5. I'm thankful for that parent who always parks in my reserved spot, because it forces me to walk a little bit further and get my booty in shape.
6. I'm thankful for the kiddos who always comes to school with a runny nose and cough because they must really, really want to learn what I'm ready to teach!
7. I'm thankful for the parents who are soooo involved because it's an extra set of hands in the classroom.
8. I'm thankful for the child who always has to use the bathroom right after recess because he has shown me that I'm a creature of habit who doesn't like change.  And if he didn't ask day after day, my routine would out of whack!
9. I'm thankful for those lessons that go terribly wrong because it forces me to reflect on my teaching.
10. I'm thankful for PLC time when we don't all see eye-to eye because it teaches me patience and to see things from other perspectives.
11. I'm thankful for running out of supplies every year because it teaches me to get creative.
12. I'm thankful for the years when I didn't have any parent volunteers because my actual parents got to spend a lot of time in my room.
13. I'm thankful for all the times when my Principal would walk through my room several times a day because come to find out, he said my class was so peaceful and he could think best in there.
14. I'm thankful for my kiddos who had so much craziness going on in their little lives because it gave me the chance to spend lunch time with them once a week so that they would have a afe place to be.
15. I'm thankful for working at one school where parent involvement was lacking because it pushed me to think outside the box and create several  Family Literacy Nights where it brought the community together and got parents involved!!
16. I'm thankful for being laid-off a few years ago because it allowed me to move to Hawaii to fulfill my dream to teach at an amazing school where kiddos had hawaiian class, took off their slippers before coming into class, and got to be kids without all of the academics that we have on the mainland.
17. I'm thankful when the day doesn't go as planned because an emergency fire drill takes place, we end up on rainy-day schedule, a parent forgets to come in for center time, or anything else because it has shown me the importance of being flexible. 
18. I'm thankful when I'm not acknowledged for all my hard work because I know that all that matters is if my students are engaged, happy, and successful.
19. I'm thankful for staying up late grading papers and finishing report cards because it lets me catch up on all my trashy reality shows.  Who said teachers can't multi-task???
20. Finally, I'm thankful for my teacher salary because in the end, I became a teacher to inspire, shape, and mold the little minds of my students, not to drive a fancy car and live in a big house.  At the end of the day, those 7 hours I spend with my munchkins are what's important.