I will have you know that on one of those crazy personality tests my school district made teachers do, I scored high on my maternal nurturing.  I guess that being a man doesn't exclude being feminine, at least if you are gay.🤔😆

21 minutes ago, Cia said:

I work with several men at my elementary school who are straight who are great with the kids, imo. Then again, I am SO not maternal. "Aww, did that hurt? You won't do it again, will you?" is more my speed. LOL With my own kids it was a raised eyebrow and a dry, "Stupid hurts." I do know better than to say that to students though. 😇

The word for the number 5 in Thai is pronounced HA. So,555.  Kids can see through teachers' words so well, that they know what the teachers mean and how much they do care.  I have seen it so many times.  I also know exactly what you mean when you responded to my joke.  I have never met a male or female teacher, straight or gay, at the elementary and middle school that didn't love his/her students. The students also loved them as much.  These teachers are some of my best friends who stood by me even though their religions might tell them to do differently, because I am gay.  I also want to add that the test was from early in my career.  As I matured as a teacher, I found that nurturing could be detrimental to some of my kids.  What they needed most was your approach.  Different strokes for all occasions and kids. 

Thanks again for both your response and for the added choices of the GA administrators.

2 hours ago, Cia said:

With my own kids it was a raised eyebrow and a dry, "Stupid hurts."

If stupid does indeed hurt, we must be surrounded by masochists.

I had to look up the word since I am a bit of a logophile. I was surprised that this word originated from a stereotype of women. Distaff means flax staff (a tool used in spinning), and became a word to refer to women's work.  

I am intrigued to think about how the emotional impact of words like this have changed after centuries of cultural transformation.  However, I will leave that thought, since I am not a logo-maniac.🤔😊