Children enjoy routine and can find it difficult if their normal teacher is out sick or on leave. We’re always amazed by how devoted teachers are to their charges and the lengths they go to in order to make the transition easier for them.
But this amazing photo of a teacher checking over her lesson plans while in labour proves that some teachers go above and beyond their normal duties for their students.
Texas teacher Jennifer Pope was photographed in her hospital gown in the labour ward diligently completing lesson plans. Jennifer wanted to ensure the plans were complete before she gave them to her husband to pass on to the substitute teacher.
Despite being in labour, Jennifer looked calm and collected. It’s quite astonishing to find out that she gave birth less than an hour later.
The photo which was shared by Rooted in Love photography, encouraged the public to show appreciation for teachers.
The accompanying text read: “Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week here in Texas. Spoil them rotten because even in labour, they care. No lie, she gave birth less than an hour later.
"This post is about showing the dedication of a teacher (I was one myself for many years)”, the original poster explained.
Many other teachers commented on the post, sharing their own experiences of how they dealt with their responsibilities to their students while pregnant, in labour or ill.
One teacher wrote: “I remember telling the doctor I needed to go home because I had to teach in the morning and she told me ‘this baby's coming and you're going to need a sub’ ".
“There I was texting lesson plans for the week to my boss when I was in labour. Good times!”
While another said she got straight back into correcting homework after giving birth because she didn’t want to let her students down: “I was grading papers two hours after my son was born. My darling 11th graders had worked so hard on those research papers I didn't want them to feel like I abandoned them at the end.”
Jennifer and her husband Andrew welcomed a beautiful baby girl named Clara shortly after the photo was taken. The couple were overjoyed to have their third child.
Jennifer’s photographer who took photos of her before the birth and after said: “I think mama's face says it all when she held her sweet Clara for the first time.”
