tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post8929381565487418625..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: I'm a 48-Year-Old Man TodayTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-39051027668716135372010-02-23T16:53:59.178-08:002010-02-23T16:53:59.178-08:00Happy birthday, dear Tom. I haven't met you i...Happy birthday, dear Tom. I haven't met you in person, but I think of you as a friend. Thank you for all you do.Launa Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03732938187019993335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-6126184054353006212010-02-23T13:11:36.242-08:002010-02-23T13:11:36.242-08:00A belated Happy Birthday Tom, I hope you had a gre...A belated Happy Birthday Tom, I hope you had a great one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-48020844573702509442010-02-22T16:43:20.841-08:002010-02-22T16:43:20.841-08:00I hope you had a wonderful Birthday. And I hope yo...I hope you had a wonderful Birthday. And I hope you have a year ahead that is filled with blessings. <br /><br />Thank you for being an encouragement to so many. You make the world a better place. A much better place.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07874897254332872367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-45437168575498525402010-02-22T10:45:09.938-08:002010-02-22T10:45:09.938-08:00wishing you well in this next year of life.
happy...wishing you well in this next year of life.<br /><br />happy birthday, tom.kristinhttp://preschool-daze.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-32667379509124109362010-02-21T08:34:49.178-08:002010-02-21T08:34:49.178-08:00WOW, cannot believe we missed it...but, belated as...WOW, cannot believe we missed it...but, belated as it may be: <br /><br />"HAPPY 48TH"...<br /><br />Cheers!BellaDaddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12469029319230742802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-65751754087165487012010-02-21T08:20:58.945-08:002010-02-21T08:20:58.945-08:00Happy Birthday Teacher Tom! I'm glad you'v...Happy Birthday Teacher Tom! I'm glad you've had the great fortune of living, loving, and rebelling for 48 years, and wish you at least 48 more of sharing your life with those you love and those who, every day, grow to love you!dv.x.3https://www.blogger.com/profile/17097937663389205624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-51841943950872067562010-02-20T19:17:17.868-08:002010-02-20T19:17:17.868-08:00Tom,
Happy Birthday, friend! Isn't growing ol...Tom, <br />Happy Birthday, friend! Isn't growing older beautiful? We sort of "come into our own". I think when we're young, we are in a hurry to be someone, but we really don't know who we already are. As we age, we discover that it's much more important to be "someone" than "A SOMEBODY"! We want to connect and foster our sense of community. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your wonderful community! I think it makes me a better person and better teacher. (And from reading some of the other comments, I'm not alone!) <br /><br />Thank you for a beautiful post. It's more like a birthday gift to us!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13798516846017108647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-86395402394375533792010-02-20T19:09:14.537-08:002010-02-20T19:09:14.537-08:00Happy Birthday,
You are just a few years ahaed of ...Happy Birthday,<br />You are just a few years ahaed of me in years, but I am a few years ahead of you in launching and relaunching children. My 2 children, now 19 and 21 are both in college (one abroad in South America). <br />You really verbalized what I also have come to realize. Our kids need to experience and handle pain, as well as love joy and exhilaration and the large gray area in between. Perhaps this feeling of holding people and the present so dearly, is that the mothering and fathering of our children has transitioned in such a way, that a new form of nesting happens within ourselves. Thanks for talking about this new stage, it's new for a lot of us.Marla McLean, Atelieristahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12788200495569027489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-33591576141200711412010-02-20T17:47:37.414-08:002010-02-20T17:47:37.414-08:00Happy Birthday Teacher Tom!!! May this year be Ble...Happy Birthday Teacher Tom!!! May this year be Blessed and full of Joy for you, your family and your preschool community!!!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13030119452735812171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-87495230846357250112010-02-20T15:56:25.601-08:002010-02-20T15:56:25.601-08:00Happy Birthday Tom!
I loved reading your post tod...Happy Birthday Tom!<br /><br />I loved reading your post today because I discovered so many of the same things you have along this road called life.<br /><br />My Oldest is the one who is the obviously independent one, who struggled to leave the nest, who wanted to drive from the time she was 8, yes 8, and is doing extremely well living on her own at college. I learned you can't hang on too tight, they were meant to go. But, it breaks your heart at times.<br /><br />Thanks for a wonderful post!SurprisedMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11474705305996978532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-77810204642951069062010-02-20T15:15:35.658-08:002010-02-20T15:15:35.658-08:00Hi Tom, I just remember you as the really cute guy...Hi Tom, I just remember you as the really cute guy who had the cutest girlfriend in high school. You always had a lightness about you that I admired and a sincerity that showed in your face. I am embarrassed at the superficial way that I knew you. You have become so much more than I would ever have thought, an incredible artist, an eye opening writer(one that makes me feel), and a great father to a lovely girl. I am sure your wife would agree with me.<br />Thanks for showing me who you really are and sharing on such an empowering way. You make this planet rock!<br />PushpaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-39955187467221825492010-02-20T14:56:23.058-08:002010-02-20T14:56:23.058-08:00Hey, you old guy. I hope you have a very happy bi...Hey, you old guy. I hope you have a very happy birthday. Enjoy yourself! Do something wildly out of character. Or not. After all, it IS your day.<br /><br />Have you read Dr. Seuss' Happy Birthday to You? If you haven't recently, you should. I love it.Jason, as himselfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16630210317307544165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-88217240353511537722010-02-20T12:55:27.929-08:002010-02-20T12:55:27.929-08:00Happy birthday! I'm still struggling with mid...Happy birthday! I'm still struggling with mid-20's, but you given me lots to think about regardless.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17288612757412855932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-91570167965904771772010-02-20T12:39:27.170-08:002010-02-20T12:39:27.170-08:00Happy Birthday Tom!Happy Birthday Tom!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-90732679051319591012010-02-20T10:39:26.636-08:002010-02-20T10:39:26.636-08:00Hi Tom! I am a newbie to your Most Excellent Blog ...Hi Tom! I am a newbie to your Most Excellent Blog via Ms Deborah and I too would like to Wish You A Rocking Birthday!<br /><br />I myself will be "50" this summer and I also have a "13" year old daughter! My son is "15" so I kind of knew the crazies were coming and believe me they did! But my girl seems to be a whole "new" kind of crazy 13! ;)<br /><br />I started teaching Pre-K when I was 18 and my style (if that's what you could call it) had evolved into a more freer kind of teaching. More Fun and with the knowledge that kids WILL grow up faster today then ever before! <br /><br />So,I always wanted their first experience to "school" to be the time that they felt the most Loved, to be their most memorable times and to leave me knowing that Learning IS Fun! <br /><br />I know that every child AND parent that has had "You" as a Teacher has been Blessed so much by your "Style" of teaching and Your whole hearted LOVE for them, each and everyone!<br /><br />God Bless You Mr. Tom! I just wish there were more Teachers who thought and taught the way You do AND had such a Awesome School to Teach at, as yours! I know that everyone who reads your stories can not help but be changed by Your example! The World Needs More Teachers Like YOU In It Tom! <br /><br />Have The "Bestest" Birthday Ever!You Are Truly A Blessing My Friend!<br /><br />(please forgive me if my words aren't as eloquent as yours or your readers. I never earned my degree via paper and I never was much of a writer or the smartest teacher/gal on the block, but my heart was always full of love for my kiddos and my "Job wasn't a Job to me ...It was a Joy!" Which is what I see in You!)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02492833240004092036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-56158213227594554342010-02-20T10:23:59.774-08:002010-02-20T10:23:59.774-08:00Hippy Hoppy Happy Birthday!
Do you think it's...Hippy Hoppy Happy Birthday!<br /><br />Do you think it's a matter of learning to value what we have rather than what we haven't got?Juliet Robertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07035975039896986525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-81844468779155180372010-02-20T09:51:04.475-08:002010-02-20T09:51:04.475-08:00Well said. Age is a fascinating thing to ponder. I...Well said. Age is a fascinating thing to ponder. I wonder if the adolescent drive to alientate and the middle-age drive toward community are somehow grown from the same ideal? Something to think about while I take The Boy to the aquarium today...<br /><br />Happy Birthday!Floor Piehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06533240227865369012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-60719066317831464102010-02-20T09:28:00.545-08:002010-02-20T09:28:00.545-08:00Happy Birthday, Tom!
Thanks for your thoughtful wo...Happy Birthday, Tom!<br />Thanks for your thoughtful words - I hope too that the urge to create community is as inherent as youthful rebellion, and that as we all get older and learn more and more ways to make community with each other. Then maybe we'll pass on those skills the children we interact with, so that our communities grow stronger and stronger as we all come into those phases of connection, in the fullness of time.<br /><br />This all makes me think of something you also said in a post a little while ago - that you had no fear for the future. Hearing that from you, delving more into my studies in education, becoming a teacher at this time and my own experiences with kids and the experiences of others such as yourself with the kids in their lives - all of this helps renew my own sense of faith in the future.<br /><br />Wow! Well! An outpouring! All this to say, I'm glad you were born and I appreciate you sharing your experience and insight with us. May this year hold many delighting surprises and aha! moments - that you then awesomely share with us! HA!<br />Thanks always - noahNoahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08675709995031241987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-42185643520796719882010-02-20T09:05:19.816-08:002010-02-20T09:05:19.816-08:00Happy Birthday! I hope you have a great day.
I agr...Happy Birthday! I hope you have a great day.<br />I agree with you about the natural instinct to be independent. I find myself much more reliant and in need of family (in a good way) than I was as a child/teenager. All I wanted was for them to "LEAVE ME ALONE!" while growing up. Now, at times, I find I'm worried about what little time I might have left with them.Pumpkin Delight (Kimberly)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15754292671421221960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-29645107698444051072010-02-20T08:53:32.767-08:002010-02-20T08:53:32.767-08:00Happy Birthday!! You are just a few years ahead of...Happy Birthday!! You are just a few years ahead of me:) <br /><br />It is an interesting thing to know that as we grow and seek independence that once we have it - we then look for ways to become more connected. I think that is why having children in our lives is so important. It keeps us connected which is a healthy thing. <br /><br />I hope your year as a 48 year old man is filled with many blessings - I have found your thoughtful posts and online friendship to be a blessing in my life. Thanks for all you do..Deborah Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992053244004086395noreply@blogger.com