Clear the Lists!
Doing my small part to help our beleaguered teachers, and ten ways parenting is like the Olympics 😂
Yesterday was “Take Your Kid to Work Day” at my office.
I took my 8-year-old, and he was crazy excited to see what his dad does everyday because doesn’t yet understand that work is a nightmarish hellscape of stress and underappreciation (just like parenting!) that doesn’t usually feature movie screenings and popcorn and ice cream.
Aside from the treats, there were a handful of activities for kids to participate in, including an interactive demonstration of some of the work my company does. Leading the show—and thanks to him, it was truly a show!—was a colleague who moonlights as a college professor, and those skills came in handy! I’m sure he’s quite professional in his day job but during the show he radiated insane “favorite teacher” energy.
He was fun and enthusiastic and silly and he entertainingly explained complex ideas in simple ways that all the kids could understand (the age range for the day was basically 5-12), and he had a deep repertoire of dad jokes and silly bits that kept everyone entertained. They ate up every second, and he performed this show multiple times throughout the day. He must have been exhausted!
Most good teachers are. I wouldn’t know for sure, because if I ever had to teach a class of kids for a day I would quit— or, let’s be honest, get fired —before lunch. I can barely handle two kids, let alone 25-30, and while I know there’s a big difference between parenting your own kids and teaching other people’s, I also know myself. I am in the bottom 1% of people who should be teachers. (My kids still can’t tie their shoes because I ain’t got time for that nonsense!)
Teachers are special. Yes, even the bad ones! Nobody joins the profession to get rich, so there’s immediately an element of selflessness in the gig, and while some of them fall into the role after failing at other careers, but let’s go easy on them; it’s hard enough teaching band already! And while there are definitely bad ones, it seems to me that most join up with the best intentions and some end up jaded and bitter after years of being ground down, disrespected (by students, parents, politicians, etc.), and ignored. Some bad teachers surely start out that way, ill-suited for the vocation for any number of reasons, but I’d venture a guess that no small percentage is turned bad by working within a broken system.
It’s no secret that we vastly undervalue our teachers. They’re underpaid and overworked, they get targeted by conservative weirdos for teaching actual science (as opposed to the Bible) or assigning books that highlight diversity and acceptance (as opposed to Project 2025) or encouraging empathy (as opposed to exclusion). And most of all, they don’t have the budgets necessary to support their efforts, and thus are forced to beg for or buy them on their own.
Which is why, for the third year in a row, I’ve been sharing teacher wish lists in my Instagram stories. (FYI: Teacher wish lists are lists of school supplies teachers put on Amazon in the hopes that class parents and anyone else might help pay for some classroom essentials that would otherwise have to come out of their underpaid pockets because schools are underfunded.)
Three years ago, I posted a meme (see below) bemoaning the state of teaching in this country, and then I opened up my DMs to teachers who needed help procuring the supplies they need to do their jobs. Because, as a parent who can’t help but get annoyed by schools’ constant emails asking for more money for markers and tissues, and the brother of a teacher who is in the trenches every day, I know how hard it is.
I reposted that meme yesterday, and one guy commented that “this is why Trump wants to end the Department of Education. It does nothing!” To which I say the opposite: we shouldn’t get rid of the Department of Education, we should make it better! We shouldn’t have to rely on stupid parenting influencers like Yours Truly to buttress their efforts.
My oldest brother is a teacher. Not only is he patient and kind and silly in ways that I could never be, he works his ass off to ensure that he covers the mandated curriculum while also adding some fun and flair and extra pizazz that kids need to stay engaged and actually retain the information he’s helping deliver. Most of what school districts provide is nothing but the bare bones, and if you know anything about today’s kids and all the distractions they have, you know that it takes more than bare bones to get the job done.
So I’m trying to help ease the load via my silly social media account. And for the last two years, my followers have been wonderful in helping lend a hand by buying some of those supplies and clearing many of those lists, so that teachers can not only do their jobs, but they have the resources, and the time, to not only concentrate on the basic stuff, but to do all the extra stuff that makes them good at their jobs and breeds those special go-the-extra-mile teachers they used to make movies about.
I’m happy to do what I can to free those teachers up to go the extra mile without having to reach deeper into their own pockets. And I hope you are too, because every single one of us has had one of those special teachers or three throughout our lives that have made a difference. Maybe one of them saw something in you that set your life on a different path, maybe one of them helped you get over the hump on something that would have hindered your development, maybe one of them just made coming to school a little easier, a little safer, a little more fun.
I still remember the names of my favorite teachers and I’m so old most of them are dead by now (No offense, Mrs. Delvecchio; I hope you’re thriving!)! And I bet you remember the names of your favorites too. Let’s help make more of them.
So if you have a second, and a few extra bucks, head over to my Instagram and check out my stories. Or if you know of a teacher who needs a helping hand, send them to my DMs!
And while you’re there, scroll down to one of my “political” posts and stroll through the comments section. You’ll quickly understand why education is needed in this country now more than ever.
Social Media Round-up
The Olympics
Have you been watching? The timing is killing me; I know all the results before the primetime airings! And I need a good storyline! My favorite recent Olympics experience was watching Michael Phelps dominate in pursuit of his record gold medals, and this year it’s all about Simone Biles (apologies to the pommel horse Clark Kent, whom Mom and Buried has become fixated on).
My kids watched some of the gymnastics finals with us, but my 13yo couldn’t have cared less, and waiting for the payoff proved too much for my 8yo, who actually loves sports. Maybe I’ll make him watch some of the basketball.
Anyway, years ago, when I had an actual blog, I compared parenting to the Olympics, and I think my list (I used to love making lists!) remains valid. Let me know if you agree…
10 Ways Parenting is Like the Olympics
You’re constantly amazed that there aren’t more injuries
The outfits are ridiculous
Major drama always seems to happen in the middle of the night
Someone always has pink eye
Most of the time you have no idea what’s happening
Everyone has more energy than you
There’s tons of crying
There’s a lot of judging that doesn’t make any sense
Half the participants barely speak English
Moms get most of the credit
Saw the post on Instagram. You're a good man, Charlie Brown. I appreciate you using your platform to help others. And also to make me laugh.