Dear parents: You don’t have to be perfect, just be real

IF THERE’S A UNIVERSAL through line in every conversation I am having with parents of school-age kids right now, it is this: “I miss my children’s teachers so much. When do we get to see them again?”

When I was in college, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. A lot of people in my family suggested that I become a teacher. I heard it a lot: “Why don’t you use all of that you want to do and translate it into the classroom?” But I thought I’d be the worst teacher in the world. Teaching is a calling. It’s not something you just pick up because your original dream didn’t work out. You become