Through this first year of teaching I have learned so much about myself.  I have discovered parts of my personality that I didn’t even know I had, and developed other parts that needed strengthening.  Though no one is ever perfect, I have largely learned to embrace my flaws.

All my life, I have been told that I was too sensitive.  I have easily cried before at the drop of a hat, and of course at times when I needed to be strong.  Truth be told, I have cried this year at work!

I’ve always been made to feel that my immense emotions were a negative thing; I was regularly told as a child to “toughen up,” “stop crying so much,” “get over it” and the like.  But what I have come to realize is that my compassion is a gift in my line of work–children need understanding and emotional attachment to their teacher.

Although some might say I’m not tough enough, I believe I am the ideal blend of gentle and tough on my second graders.  They know I will follow through when I need to discipline, but that I am always there to give advice and make them feel validated with what they need to tell me.  And that is how a weakness turned into a strength.

Looking for a film that will allow your kids to know perfect isn’t always best?

UGLYDOLLS is an animated adventure in which the free-spirited UglyDolls confront what it means to be different, struggle with a desire to be loved, and ultimately discover who you truly are is what matters most.

The film stars Kelly Clarkson (American Idol, The Star), Nick Jonas (Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), Janelle Monáe (Rio 2, Hidden Figures), and Blake Shelton (Pitch Perfect 2, The Angry Birds Movie).

In the adorably different town of Uglyville, weird is celebrated, strange is special and beauty is embraced as more than simply meets the eye. Here, the free-spirited Moxy and her UglyDoll friends live every day in a whirlwind of bliss, letting their freak flags fly in a celebration of life and its endless possibilities. The endearingly unique residents of Uglyville occasionally look to the sky above the town, where a new UglyDoll will appear and be embraced by the community.

Moxy (Kelly Clarkson) loves her square-peg life in this round-hole town, but her curiosity about all things leads her to wonder if there’s something – anything – on the other side of the mountain which nestles Uglyville. Moxy gathers a group of her closest friends and sets off to find what’s on the other side. They discover another world – Perfection – a town where more conventional dolls are trained in protocols before they graduate and are sent to the “real” world to find the love of a child.

In Perfection, Moxy and her crew are subject to the manipulations of Lou (Nick Jonas), the perfect doll in charge of training recruits. Here, the UglyDolls will confront what it means to be different, struggle with their desire to be loved, and ultimately discover that you don’t have to be perfect to be amazing because who you truly are is what matters most.