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“This Is Why I Teach”: Teacher Shares The Most Heartwarming Notes Student’s Mom Writes On His Pencils
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“This Is Why I Teach”: Teacher Shares The Most Heartwarming Notes Student’s Mom Writes On His Pencils

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No matter who or how old you are, every one of us has those days when life just seems to be tougher than usual. And in those difficult moments, an encouraging word from someone who cares about you could be all you need to realize that everything is going to be alright.

Kids are no exception. Going to school, studying and trying to make friends can be much more challenging to deal with than it may sometimes seem to us, adults. The problem is when kids are at school, parents simply aren’t able to be there and support them. That’s why slipping loving encouraging messages inside a child’s school backpack can be a really great way for parents to brighten their little one’s day.

…or you can always borrow an idea from this thoughtful mom. A Facebook user named Amanda Cox, who is also a teacher, has shared a lovely story on her profile that now has more than 600 thousand reacts. Let’s take a look at it!

Amanda shared a photo showing a bunch of pencils laying on some kind of surface and each of these pencils has sweet affirmation words written on it

Image credits: Amanda Cox

And here’s what she wrote

One day at work, Amanda noticed that she’s running out of pencils, so she asked her students to pull out any pencils that they had in their desks. One boy asked if he could keep the pencils that his mom gave him, and, o course, the teacher said yes. But then he changed his mind and decided to give some of them to his classmates.

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When the boy gave some of his pencils to the teacher, she noticed that each of them had something written on them. Amanda realized that it was his mom who took the time to write these things on his pencils.

Here’s what was written on these pencils

All these pencils had all kinds of affirmations written on it, for instance, “you are so talented,” “you can do this,” “proud of you every day,” “you are the best” and so on. The teacher thought it was absolutely brilliant.

“THESE are the things that we should be reminding our kids”

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Amanda encourages parents to always look for ways to remind their children how amazing and loved they are. “This probably took his mom a few minutes to do yet it lit up his whole day at school,” she wrote in her post. She believes that not only parents but teachers as well should take time to remind kids about these things.

Here’s what people thought about it

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Julija Svidraitė

Julija Svidraitė

Author, Community member

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Julija Svidraitė is an editor here at Bored Panda who has a bachelor's degree in Psychology. Before starting her journey at BP, she had worked as a social media specialist at a marketing agency. She has also tried herself in a few different fields working as an intern: from practicing graphic design at a social media marketing agency, to being an assistant at a psychiatric hospital. Besides writing, Julija is also very passionate about illustrating, drinking coffee, and watching crime documentaries. You can find her in Bored Panda Office or reach her at julija.s@boredpanda.com.

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Julija Svidraitė

Julija Svidraitė

Author, Community member

Julija Svidraitė is an editor here at Bored Panda who has a bachelor's degree in Psychology. Before starting her journey at BP, she had worked as a social media specialist at a marketing agency. She has also tried herself in a few different fields working as an intern: from practicing graphic design at a social media marketing agency, to being an assistant at a psychiatric hospital. Besides writing, Julija is also very passionate about illustrating, drinking coffee, and watching crime documentaries. You can find her in Bored Panda Office or reach her at julija.s@boredpanda.com.

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iblowsheep avatar
iblowsheep
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If my mother had done this there would be a contradicting message on the other side. such as "you are so talented" and the other side "But you are wasting it" or "you are Perfect" then "but you need a haircut. I didn't raise a Hippy". etc.

pseudo_puppy avatar
Pseudo Puppy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

well your mother was charming wasn't she? (to be read with the sarcastic tone it was written with)

Load More Replies...
morganrathjen avatar
maia martin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what if you sharpened the one that said never give up until it said give up

bubbsart avatar
Bubbs Art
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that would be a sad day. :( I once saw a picture of a pencil that said “don’t do drugs” but as you sharpened it, it would read “do drugs”

Load More Replies...
wianjama avatar
Rissie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But the thing is, compliments need some kind of achievement or action to be worthwhile. If you're just doodling away because you're bored during math because you just don't get it and it says "You're amazeballs at math", then it serves no purpose other than being a hollow frase. I'd rather compliment my kids when they show me what they did so they see I take them seriously.

gfstaylor avatar
GFSTaylor
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's what I was thinking. Messages like 'I'm proud of you', and 'you are loved' are fine. Knowing you have the love and support of your parents is important. 'You are perfect' and 'you are a math whizz' put pressure on to live up to those things, or else can create expectations that the rest of the world will see them in the same way.

Load More Replies...
oshasherif3414 avatar
Aisha Boudy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a child, I demand all of u to to give me encouraging words.

manonm avatar
manon M
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are a good person, always believe in yourself 🤗 (and a french version, because i'm french 😊 : tu es une bonne personne, crois toujours en toi)

Load More Replies...
albertambrosia avatar
Albert Ambrosia
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When my Mom was alive she always put notes in my lunch bag. When she died, I was 13, Pop took over making my lunch and never missed a day without an encouraging note. And I was Mom's nurse giving her morphine shots, bed pan etc. I cooked and cleaned the house, as did my cousin who was with Mom from 7Am to 4Pm when I got back from school. I took over making Pop's lunch and yep there would be a note in his bag too from me. This continued until I went off to college. Pop lived with me when I started working and loved him so but he was such a lousy cook, even my saints who adored him would not eat his cooking. Parents like this Mom, makes these small thoughtful gestures that maybe a kid may say oh please mom, but she does it out of love and her way of keeping in touch with your child. BRAVO MOM's and DAD's who take the time to reinforce what is positive in life. Perhaps if more parents, did this we would not have marxist organizations like blm, antifa, cair etc harming America right now.

ashfiend19 avatar
Ashley Conover
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It reminds me of my mother. When I was in grade school she would take food coloring and put smiley faces on the bread of my sandwich. There was always a note in My Lunchbox from fifth grade all the way through my senior year if I took lunch to school.

sink_venice avatar
Sinkvenice
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why are you writing a repeat underneath of what the teacher said?

annagsalerno avatar
Anna Salerno
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh how I wish my mother would have done this for me then I would have done it in turn for my own children. Instead I got from her, “ You should be ashamed of yourself.” So, I was, I walked in shame for many years before I believed I was just OK. Kudos to this awesome mother.

macforme17 avatar
Lindy Mac
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This mom is doing it right! She's even got him aware that not everyone has as much as he does so he shared his precious pencils with his classmates. Kid's going to go far.👍

sararussell avatar
SaraFromHell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah except it's also a great way to cheat on multiple choice questions. That how I passed geography.

cruzarts avatar
robert-townsend avatar
rhiles5 avatar
Mary Ellen Rhile
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a retired teacher, I always told parents you are really the best teacher your child has. Cannot over stress the example parents are in the lives of their kids.

tripichick avatar
joi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

oh yeah, cheesy words on my writing implement always stiffens my stalk. thx, mom, for going to all that trouble. now, if you could maybe get a job so we could have water with our ramen?

willbaker avatar
Will Baker
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nice message! Times have changed though, and im glad they have. If my mom did this when i was a kid it would translate to some ‘beatings.’ It seems like kids are more accepting these days which is a good thing and you have to celebrate this.

sophiebabbitt avatar
Sophie Babbitt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol sharpen that last one enough and the pencil is suddenly IMPORTANT

newbury943 avatar
supersally1234
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i love cats they are so loyal to their owners and love to live in luxury

cyamopsis avatar
Mee AndMyself
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

billnewsome avatar
Bill Newsome
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What would be really funny is Bored Panda covering all of Biden's latest comments. But you don't want to look like a "lying dog-faced pony soldier."

epectasis avatar
Jos Tiguidou
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone probably mentioned this before but...ok it's cool to make your kid feel special sometimes. But...this to me is something that will likely blow up in that kid's face eventually. When you're constantly being told you're like the best thing ever without ever actually doing anything to earn that....truth is...you're probably not. And kids who've been told their whole lives they are special only to find out that they absolutely aren't in any way shape or form...that s**t is devastating. Kids like that don't handle rejection or failure very well. I could be wrong though.

spidy avatar
Curious Cat
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

i read more on the story.. turns out another child borrowed the pencil and then filed a harassment suit. won $500k.

tiari avatar
Tiari
Community Member
3 years ago (edited)

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I‘m calling b******t on this one. Which kid takes 20 unsharpened pencils in pristine condition to school every day?

parmeisan avatar
Parmeisan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nobody said that. I assume he took them once, at the start of the year, and kept them in his desk. That's how things worked where I am when I was in elementary school, anyway. And of course there are probably a bunch of sharpened/used ones sitting around too.

Load More Replies...
iblowsheep avatar
iblowsheep
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If my mother had done this there would be a contradicting message on the other side. such as "you are so talented" and the other side "But you are wasting it" or "you are Perfect" then "but you need a haircut. I didn't raise a Hippy". etc.

pseudo_puppy avatar
Pseudo Puppy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

well your mother was charming wasn't she? (to be read with the sarcastic tone it was written with)

Load More Replies...
morganrathjen avatar
maia martin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what if you sharpened the one that said never give up until it said give up

bubbsart avatar
Bubbs Art
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that would be a sad day. :( I once saw a picture of a pencil that said “don’t do drugs” but as you sharpened it, it would read “do drugs”

Load More Replies...
wianjama avatar
Rissie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But the thing is, compliments need some kind of achievement or action to be worthwhile. If you're just doodling away because you're bored during math because you just don't get it and it says "You're amazeballs at math", then it serves no purpose other than being a hollow frase. I'd rather compliment my kids when they show me what they did so they see I take them seriously.

gfstaylor avatar
GFSTaylor
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's what I was thinking. Messages like 'I'm proud of you', and 'you are loved' are fine. Knowing you have the love and support of your parents is important. 'You are perfect' and 'you are a math whizz' put pressure on to live up to those things, or else can create expectations that the rest of the world will see them in the same way.

Load More Replies...
oshasherif3414 avatar
Aisha Boudy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a child, I demand all of u to to give me encouraging words.

manonm avatar
manon M
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are a good person, always believe in yourself 🤗 (and a french version, because i'm french 😊 : tu es une bonne personne, crois toujours en toi)

Load More Replies...
albertambrosia avatar
Albert Ambrosia
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When my Mom was alive she always put notes in my lunch bag. When she died, I was 13, Pop took over making my lunch and never missed a day without an encouraging note. And I was Mom's nurse giving her morphine shots, bed pan etc. I cooked and cleaned the house, as did my cousin who was with Mom from 7Am to 4Pm when I got back from school. I took over making Pop's lunch and yep there would be a note in his bag too from me. This continued until I went off to college. Pop lived with me when I started working and loved him so but he was such a lousy cook, even my saints who adored him would not eat his cooking. Parents like this Mom, makes these small thoughtful gestures that maybe a kid may say oh please mom, but she does it out of love and her way of keeping in touch with your child. BRAVO MOM's and DAD's who take the time to reinforce what is positive in life. Perhaps if more parents, did this we would not have marxist organizations like blm, antifa, cair etc harming America right now.

ashfiend19 avatar
Ashley Conover
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It reminds me of my mother. When I was in grade school she would take food coloring and put smiley faces on the bread of my sandwich. There was always a note in My Lunchbox from fifth grade all the way through my senior year if I took lunch to school.

sink_venice avatar
Sinkvenice
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why are you writing a repeat underneath of what the teacher said?

annagsalerno avatar
Anna Salerno
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh how I wish my mother would have done this for me then I would have done it in turn for my own children. Instead I got from her, “ You should be ashamed of yourself.” So, I was, I walked in shame for many years before I believed I was just OK. Kudos to this awesome mother.

macforme17 avatar
Lindy Mac
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This mom is doing it right! She's even got him aware that not everyone has as much as he does so he shared his precious pencils with his classmates. Kid's going to go far.👍

sararussell avatar
SaraFromHell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah except it's also a great way to cheat on multiple choice questions. That how I passed geography.

cruzarts avatar
robert-townsend avatar
rhiles5 avatar
Mary Ellen Rhile
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a retired teacher, I always told parents you are really the best teacher your child has. Cannot over stress the example parents are in the lives of their kids.

tripichick avatar
joi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

oh yeah, cheesy words on my writing implement always stiffens my stalk. thx, mom, for going to all that trouble. now, if you could maybe get a job so we could have water with our ramen?

willbaker avatar
Will Baker
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nice message! Times have changed though, and im glad they have. If my mom did this when i was a kid it would translate to some ‘beatings.’ It seems like kids are more accepting these days which is a good thing and you have to celebrate this.

sophiebabbitt avatar
Sophie Babbitt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol sharpen that last one enough and the pencil is suddenly IMPORTANT

newbury943 avatar
supersally1234
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i love cats they are so loyal to their owners and love to live in luxury

cyamopsis avatar
Mee AndMyself
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

billnewsome avatar
Bill Newsome
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What would be really funny is Bored Panda covering all of Biden's latest comments. But you don't want to look like a "lying dog-faced pony soldier."

epectasis avatar
Jos Tiguidou
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone probably mentioned this before but...ok it's cool to make your kid feel special sometimes. But...this to me is something that will likely blow up in that kid's face eventually. When you're constantly being told you're like the best thing ever without ever actually doing anything to earn that....truth is...you're probably not. And kids who've been told their whole lives they are special only to find out that they absolutely aren't in any way shape or form...that s**t is devastating. Kids like that don't handle rejection or failure very well. I could be wrong though.

spidy avatar
Curious Cat
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

i read more on the story.. turns out another child borrowed the pencil and then filed a harassment suit. won $500k.

tiari avatar
Tiari
Community Member
3 years ago (edited)

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I‘m calling b******t on this one. Which kid takes 20 unsharpened pencils in pristine condition to school every day?

parmeisan avatar
Parmeisan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nobody said that. I assume he took them once, at the start of the year, and kept them in his desk. That's how things worked where I am when I was in elementary school, anyway. And of course there are probably a bunch of sharpened/used ones sitting around too.

Load More Replies...
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