A Heartfelt Thank You to the Teachers Who Make All the Difference

By Melanie Greene

School is a rite of passage—one every child must journey through, from pre-school to secondary school. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy, especially not for first-time parents like myself.

On my daughter’s first day of pre-school, I was overwhelmed with a whirlwind of emotions. Many of my family members expected me to cry—perhaps even bawl. And while I did shed a few tears, it wasn’t quite for the reason they assumed.

My daughter is an only child in a household of adults, with no cousins or peers her age nearby. I’ve been blessed to care for her full-time since birth, and she had never attended daycare. So, when the time came to prepare her for school, it was a big transition for both of us. I had to gently introduce her to the concept of school and help her understand what to expect.

She was excited—until she realised mommy wouldn’t be staying with her all day, and this was something she’d be doing every day.

That first morning at drop-off, she looked back at me a few times, calling out for mommy. We, the new parents, were encouraged not to linger, as it was believed that our continued presence could make separation even harder. And so, I walked away with a heavy heart, trusting that I had made the right decision.

Choosing a school with caring, competent teachers and administrators made all the difference. After her first day, I received kind and constructive feedback from the staff, along with gentle suggestions to ease my daughter’s transition. One such suggestion was to reassure her that I would always return. So, I did just that—I told her, “Mommy will always come back for you,” and she repeated those words back to me. That phrase soon became our little mantra.

On the second day, the school shared photos and videos of the children in the group chat. I saw my daughter sitting at her table, engaging with her teacher—her ‘aunty’—and at that moment, tears filled my eyes. But this time, they were tears of relief, love, and immense gratitude. In that quiet snapshot of her day, I saw that she was okay. More than okay—she was safe, supported, and beginning to thrive.

By the end of the first week, I noticed changes in her at home. She began showing signs of independence—feeding herself more confidently and managing little tasks on her own. Aside from the occasional Monday morning blues or moments of, “I’m ready to go home now”, before we’ve even left the house, she walks into school happily. And every afternoon, the big, beautiful smile she gives me at pick-up is a sure sign of a day well spent.

I know that teaching is a job, and that these wonderful ‘aunties’ are paid for their work—but I also see how much of their hearts they pour into it. I recognise that many of them leave their own children behind each day to come and nurture mine. What they offer goes far beyond instruction—it’s love, patience, kindness, and care. And that deserves recognition.

My daughter’s transition to school hasn’t been flawless, but with the support of her teachers, it has been smoother and more peaceful than I expected. Now, nearly a month into the school term, I want to give flowers—both literally and figuratively—to the amazing educators at my daughter’s school.

To the teachers who show up every day with love in their hearts; who treat our children as their own; who go the extra mile to teach, to listen, to care—thank you. Your work does not go unnoticed, and your impact is deeply felt.

From one grateful mother: we see you, we appreciate you, and we thank you.