March 29, 2024
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Lessons learned in love
4/29/2015 8:31:15 AM

By Tammy Kimberley
Splash Column

Teachers are held in high esteem in our home.

Mainly because I live with one. My husband's creativity, connection to students and passion for learning never ceases to amaze me. And it's not something he turns off when he leaves the classroom. Family dinner conversations revolve around books we are reading, places on the map where current events are taking place and calculating the probability of the Chicago Cubs making the World Series this year. 

But I also have close family members and friends who serve in education. I've observed them invest time, energy and resources to be better at what they do. From preschool to high school, they teach not just letters, numbers and writing, but also train students in character, compassion and caring for our world. 

I also was fortunate to have an influential group of educators while growing up who molded my perspective on life and learning. But there was one teacher who stood out above the rest - my mother.

My mom was my first teacher, as well as the one I've had the longest. Even though her own formal schooling did not go beyond high school, her impact on my education exceeds that of any other individual. My mom's influence is silently woven into the fabric of my own family, impacting the mundane as well as the magical moments of everyday life. 

Long before Common Core came about, my mom taught me common sense. Before I had to worry about meeting school standards and tests, she modeled a standard of living and responded to life's trials in ways that I still strive to emulate.

It seems appropriate that May brings the opportunity to pay tribute to both teachers and mothers, since their roles mirror one another in so many ways. While thinking back on lessons my mom taught me through the years, here are some that especially stand out: 

Growing takes time. Whether it was in the garden or in life, my mom recognized that space was needed for things to truly take root. I made my share of mistakes growing up, but my mom's encouragement and confidence in me never wavered. Weeding beans, shucking corn or digging potatoes was not always my idea of a fun Saturday afternoon, especially as a teen. But my mom modeled that hard work and patience often results in worthwhile (and delicious) results.  

Baked goods can work magic. My mom's sugar cookies, snickerdoodles and cinnamon rolls have won the hearts of many neighbors, co-workers, friends and sons-in-law. They have been known to turn a child's bad day into a brighter one and make a college kid's homesickness a little more bearable. Made with love and lots of sugar, her homemade goods always make me think of home.

Family time is priceless. Shopping with aunts, sleepovers with cousins and playing outside with sisters were regular occurrences during my childhood. As family grew older, my mom modeled how to truly care for others. Whether it was giving the homebound a ride to church services, visiting grandparents in the nursing home or caring for her own parents as they battled health issues, she simply showed up and was present for others.

Words are beautiful and powerful. Reading Richard Scarry's "Best Word Book Ever" with my mom started me on the path to appreciate the beauty of the written word. Not an avid reader herself, she supported my need for weekly trips to the library and also placed high value on the hand-written note. We were required as kids to write notes expressing our appreciation to gift givers, and she practiced what she preached, sending cards of encouragement and gratitude to others. I still have a collection of childhood notes from my mom that were hidden in my lunchbox or luggage.

Short-term sacrifice equals long-term gain. My mom (and dad) resisted frivolous spending to live below their means just so they could have the freedom to support their church and give to others in need. While we seemed to be the last possible people on the planet without cable TV, my parents created a strict budget to ensure I and my sisters could afford college. And my mom humbly worked whatever jobs she could find to help her three kids get through college debt-free. 

Was my mom perfect? By no means. But that's what makes me respect her even more. She made mistakes and humbly asked for forgiveness, even from a sometimes stubborn, know-it-all daughter. 

She's made an incredible impact throughout my lifetime. And she's not done yet. 

Mom, thank you for the lessons - big and small - that you are still teaching me to this day. I love you. 

Tammy Kimberley is general manager of The Splash and a Liberty Lake resident. Far more importantly, she is the daughter of Judy Dunaway. 

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Show some love

Teacher Appreciation Week: May 4-8

Mother's Day: May 10

Give the moms and teachers in your life a hug, high five or handwritten note. Just don't let the opportunity pass by to express your appreciation. 

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