I'm Pretty Proud of My Husband

So, typically when I post it involves some form of baby update, but today my post has a different topic: I'm really proud of my husband, and sometimes I don't think he gets enough credit for all that he does.

On Friday I had the pleasure of watching Matt receive an award from Radford for being an outstanding student in the Secondary Mathematics department. Matt's adviser, who has been a wonderful mentor and friend to Matt, wrote some very kind words that I'd like to echo: Matt is the math teacher we all wish we'd had. I don't just say that because he's cute (although he is). Matt has a genuinely unique ability to communicate information to people-- even people who generally would not, on any planet, understand aforementioned information. (i.e me; if I can understand math, most anyone can)-- in an engaging way. I actually had a lot of fun trying out various tests/quizzes this past semester just to see how I'd do with some top notch instruction. I scored 100% on my first test. I made Matt score it and write "Good work" complete with smiley face at the top of the page. (I'm not kidding; it's hanging on our refrigerator right now.)

More than that, however, Matt actually cares about his students. All of his students. Even the students that aren't always ideally behaved. This semester I've watched Matt, on two occasions, bake cookies for all of his students; I'm pretty sure he taught five periods worth of students. I've watched him agonize over grades, scrambling to find ways to help out his students, whom he believed in from day one. I've watched him get out of bed every morning, earlier than he had to, in order to provide extra help for any students who wanted it.

And before Matt was thrust into this new situation at Salem High, I watched Matt show genuine respect for and patience with students who had not been shown that respect and patience much before. He prayed for and reached out to young men and women who had been, in all honesty, mostly swept under the rug and pushed out the door by the system. Matt does his job joyfully every day, and it's definitely not for the money.

At the end of every day Matt comes home and, somehow, still finds the energy to be my best friend. He's always been a huge help around the house, but particularly throughout our pregnancy. I couldn't ask for a more faithful and loving companion; if I did, I'd have two of him. I can't wait to watch Matt be a father. In some ways, I think he was born for this. Declan, you can't read yet (we'll work on that come July), but you couldn't have a better Dad.

So, essentially I've taken a whole blog post just to brag on my husband for a minute, but he really does deserve it. Thank you, Math Man!