I'm gonna be totally vulnerable here. I'm tired of being a "hero"

I've never been one to complain and I very seldom say I'm tired of something because I think it always leads to mediocrity. This is my 19th year teaching. I've always felt grateful to be able to make a great living while doing something I love. I've never felt underpaid. <br><br>I've always given my all to my students and the parents I serve. I give out my cell phone number to build relationships. I have never been a time clock teacher. I've always never hesitated to do whatever it takes for my students to be successful. <br><br>I'm tired. I'm tired of being forced to be a hero. I'm tired of being something I'm not. I'm tired of being thanked to (my job) by people who have never seen me work or have never even seen me. I've been thanked to the point of it feeling like a patronizing pat in the head from a parent. I'm tired of people that I don't even know sending me cards with Amazon gift cards telling me that they know how hard I'm working. I'm tired of getting emails from parents telling me how hard I work for students who aren't even in my classroom. I've been told on numerous occasions that "the holidays will be here soon and then you'll get to take some time off." This is my 19th year teaching. I know when I get a break. I know how to take care of myself. I've done it for 18 years now. I'm tired of being told how hard I'm working. I know how hard I work. <br><br>My students have always come first, my students still come first. But it's getting there. I'm tired of being looked at as a hero, a saint, a self-less person. I'm tired of people thanking me and telling me how great of a person I am for doing my job. I'm tired of being given cards and gift cards to let me know how much I'm appreciated. <br><br>The worst part is that all my efforts are probably not going to yield the results I want. The worst part is that my students are probably going to suffer the most. The worst part is that no one is listening (including parents). The worst part is that people are more concerned about what they want and when they want it than doing what is best. I'm tired.<br><br>History is going to look back at this and laugh. It will be a time that we always talk about. It will be a time that everyone will remember. We will say things like "you should have seen how difficult it was." Or "you wouldn't believe how we were treated." Or "I can't believe we put up with that."<br><br>I'm tired of being a hero. I just want to be a teacher.