The Dude Behind the Desk

“Thanks Dad! Wait, I mean Mr. McCall. Thanks, Mr. McCall.” This happens at some point every week and truthfully, I don’t mind it at all.  I run my classroom to be a family, and things like this should happen if I’m doing it right.  What those 8 year olds don’t know is that when they call me Dad, it evokes more than just a simple little laugh and smile when I reply with, “You’re Welcome.”  They are telling me much more, and it is my duty to give them that.  Honestly, I give myself a little high-five every time they do that.  It means I have really gotten to them, and no evaluation standard can tell me otherwise. Those little beaming blue eyes staring at me and mistakenly calling me Dad reminds me of how important I am in their life.  I am more than just the Dude behind the Desk.  I am a huge part of their little lives.  I am helping raise them and in all honesty have a lot of say so in their experiences in childhood.  It is my responsibility every day in some way, shape, or form, t