Episode #53: The Teacher Who Saw Me: A Conversation with My 3rd Grade Teacher

The best teachers don’t just teach—they nurture, empower, and create safe spaces for kids to thrive. In this 1-Year Anniversary episode, I reconnect with my 3rd-grade teacher, Mrs. Serres, to talk about what it really means to see and support a child beyond the classroom.

What may look like a “bad student” on the surface is often just a child who needs to feel seen, heard, and supported, and Mrs. Serres has a gift for making kids feel safe, valued, and capable of anything.

Together, we explore the emotional side of teaching, the importance of intentionally fostering happiness and emotional resilience, and why helping kids trust their intuition is one of the greatest gifts we can give.

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Show Notes:

• 10:27 – Choosing passion over status in teaching
• 12:48 – When and why kids start to succumb to peer pressure
• 15:15 – The moment my teacher made me feel seen
• 24:54 – Teaching kids how to tap into their own joy
• 33:22 – The Ripple Effect: Small actions that change lives
• 37:54 – How to encourage kids to believe they CAN do anything
• 41:08 – The importance of feeling seen
• 43:15 – Why teachers (and parents) must model emotional regulation & the ability to apologize
• 46:46 – The moment that shaped (or maybe saved) Heidi’s teaching career
• 51:25 – The danger of projecting our past struggles onto our kids
• 53:36 – Helping kids feel safe expressing ALL their emotions
• 56:02 – Why being clear and honest with kids helps them develop strong intuition
• 1:02:11 – The impact of eye contact and truly seeing someone

Episodes Mentioned:

• #10: Heal So Your Kids Don't Have To
• #50: 6-Year-Old Insights on Big Emotions, Self-Regulation, & Love

This episode is packed with wisdom, heart, and the reminder that sometimes, all we need is to be seen.

If a teacher ever made an impact on your life, comment on this episode and go tell them today!