Not many people are fortunate enough to say that they spend nine out of 10 hours in the day working with those energetic elementary schoolers for a living. I, on the other hand, am blessed to say that I do. When I was in high school I always said that the last job I would ever get would have to do with children. I never thought that I could stand to be around them more than once a week.

When I got to college, I found out I was very wrong. I got a job my freshman year working at an afterschool program and realized that you will never have a job that is as… entertaining… as a job working with kids is. In the 2+ years of working with children .. here’s what I’ve learned.

1. You’ll always hear “Ms.” in front of your name, and you’ll even start introducing yourself as such by accident.

When I hear my name being called, it’s usually Ms. Colby. I have to stop myself a lot from introducing myself to grown adults as Ms. Colby because I get so used to it

2. You spend a lot of your free time dedicated towards the kids.

No matter how much time you actually spend at work, even when you’re off the clock you’ll find things to do for your kids. For example, I went to the library and used 500 of my printer points to run off coloring sheets so the kids could have fun on a Friday.

3. You will have a lot of notes written to you and you won’t throw any of them away.

I still have notes from when I first started working with kids, and I have no intentions of throwing any of those away anytime soon. I now have a folder that has all the new letters that my kids write me. Nothing will warm your heart more than a child telling you how much they appreciate you.

4. You will run into a lot of your kids in public.

There’s nothing like being at Walmart trying to find the rest of your groceries and hearing your name yelled from across the department. Don’t be surprised if the kids also comment on the fact they barely recognized you at first because you didn’t have your work uniform on and they didn’t know you ever left that place.

5. You will find yourself telling funny stories of your kids at every holiday and family function.

Let’s face it, kids give the best stories, and when you work with 400 of them every day, it’s very easy to want to share the laughs with friends and family.

6. You will get so attached.

At the end of the day, there is nothing that I wouldn’t do for any of the kids. They will push every button you have, and try and get on every one of your nerves, but you’ll love them until the day that you are off this earth.

7. No two days at work will ever be the same.

You never really know what to expect when you’re going to work with children. There is always something new to learn or something new to do.

8. You will never find a more rewarding job.

Working with children has changed my life in so many different ways. I have cried, I have laughed, I have learned, and I have taught. I can be having a completely awful day, but walking into a job filled with little ones who don’t know anything about the stress of adulting is such a calming feeling.

So take it from me when I say that working with children is not a job for everyone, but I truly believe there’s something so special about the little people who have us wrapped around their fingers.. and I’m so very thankful to go to a job every day to see smiling faces, to patch up boo-boos, and to teach children that they are loved, cared for, and they always have someone rooting for them.