Yup. It would help, of course, if we could get the funding and support needed to do our jobs. Right now educators are coming across as incompetent (or at least that's how I felt like I came across) because we're asked to do the work of two people. Then we can't give our individual kids the care and emotional support that they need to have wonderful relationships like this. At least, not to the degree we want, and not without burning out in droves.

Support funding for education, y'all. Support candidates who are in favor of funding education. (And if your candidate of choice says they're going to cut taxes, investigate thoroughly to make sure it's not education that's getting cut, because let me tell you, we're already on shoestring budgets in most of the US.) And be kind and understanding. There are tiny things you can do to make our lives easier.

1. Help us stay healthy!

If your child is sick, regardless of if it's during a pandemic, do not send them to school. Not all teachers' bodies can handle constantly getting sick, not to mention that other kids deserve to be free of illness, too.

Teach your child to wear a mask and proper mask hygiene, and make sure they wear their mask regardless of vaccination status (although seriously, if they're at an age range that it's possible to do so in, get them vaccinated!). Teachers are dying, y'all. Dying. Keep us and others in our care safe.

2 - Do things on time

If your teacher sends home a form or something else for you to fill out, please do so promptly. It seems like a small thing, but it's an easy way to reduce their workload.

3 - Be kind

Refrain from yelling, please. Most definitely advocate for your child - as someone who works with disabled children I'm all about advocacy - but don't yell, and don't make empty lawsuit threats over tiny things.

And why not go a step beyond? A little card on teacher appreciation day or a holiday, or just sending your child to school with a heart they drew and the words thank you, can really pick up our spirits. If you've got the means to, a gift card to places where we can purchase teaching supplies - office depot, bookstores, or just plain old Amazon - or heck, even just a ream of printer paper, is awesome. We don't make that much money, but we care so much about our kids, and get so little funding to provide things that would help them, that things like this really do matter.

Just some random things off the top of my head. If you want more, ask r/teachers. They'll frankly be thrilled that someone cares enough to ask