Word to Your Mother - A Mother's Words About Teachers.

In honor of the last day of school, I felt like it might be appropriate to talk about teachers. I'm going to take a minute to talk about some important teachers in my life and the things they taught me.

Without teachers, I literally would not be here. My Grandma Dannelly was a High School English teacher. Obviously, the fact that she birthed my father is pretty monumental. Even more importantly, my mom was her yearbook editor in high school. When Grandma decided my dad needed to date a nice girl, she put my mom in his path. The rest is history.

Grandma introduced me to Mercer Mayer as a child. This translated into a love of books and reading. As I got older, she expanded my library  In Middle School I could always count on Grandma to buy me the newest Babysitter's Club book or introduce me to classics like Where the Red Fern Grows. As I became an adult, she was always good for a bag of used romance novels to take home.  She encouraged a love of music and always requested a performance of whatever piano piece I happened to be learning. She taught us in the kitchen and still sends me copies of cookbooks that she thinks I might enjoy. Grandma undeniably will always be my very favorite teacher. (Followed closely by my sweet elementary teaching mother-in-law.)

In elementary school I was enrolled in the gifted program. My teacher was Mrs. Nancy Gasho. Thanks to her, I wrote my first "paper" in third grade. It was about England. I used an encyclopedia and my mom typed the entire thing for me. She took us on an trip Dana Point, CA where we spent the night as the "crew" of a tall ship. In fifth grade, we were tasked with making our own civilization. When we were done, we went to Mount Charleston outside of Las Vegas for our own archaeological dig. From her I learned about photography and how to develop photos in a real dark room. Who knew at the age of 10 that I would one day have my own photography business. Most of all, she taught us to be creative and resourceful. If anyone in the Las Vegas happens to know Mrs. Gasho, please give her a giant hug from Tracey Dannelly.

The final teacher I want to talk about is Ms. Laura. She has been my little guy's teacher for the last two years. My mother-in-law calls her a "real Texas woman" and that she is. She is kind, friendly and just all around lovely. Sam has thrived under the love and care of Ms. Laura and her crew Jill, Ann, and Cory. They took a little guy who barely talked and helped mold him into the smart, funny and social guy he is now  They helped us learn that "different is ok" and that sometimes being a "risk taker" is fun. They helped us work through biting, potty training and learning to accept the word no  As I walked Sam out of school today, he was greeted my an entire class of Kindergarteners and a slew of fifth graders. They all had knew him by name and were excited to see him. Wishes for a good summer were passed his way and even a couple little hugs. The experience that we've had at this school is irreplaceable. The love and kindness he (and I) have felt over the last two years will remain with us for years to come. I know that these women will truly be the teachers that he remembers as he grows to be an adult. This is a gift that is special and rare.  The contributions they made will help shape him into the man that he will someday be. Hopefully, he will continue to remember that different is ok and that we all need to be a risktaker sometimes.

In words of Ms. Laura, "Peace out. Holla. Word to your mother."