Parent-Teacher Conference

You know, we all complain, they are too long, we are all in this crowded room together...I had to talk for six straight hours...this is parent teacher conference: Arena style. I have to say though although I lost my voice and my bum is numb....I've had some amazing moments here tonight.
The first moment being a mother, who, of course has had nothing but frustrating and negative meetings with other teachers...and when I say to her.... (genuinely) my GOD your son is inovative and intuitive, she starts to cry!  How about the second moment when I say to a couple, who obviously hasn't spoken a word to each other in a long time, where did your son learn to be so EMPATHETIC? And the mom says, "What do you mean?" and I say he is so helpful to others and always trying to teach what he knows and wow, what a leader....she says, "no one has ever said that before?"
What about the couple, who, with sad faces, say...how is our son doing? And I say, let me tell you a story, "An essential question that I ask the students is : what is good art? At first Juji (change of name) said "well art is something that shows a full range of value." I say, no that is just what we are studying and you think I want to hear, I really want to know what you think good art is.... he thought about it. I said Juji, what about Rothko who has these rectangles of colour with little range of value and people love it and buy it for millions of dollars...and he says.... "Well, I guess.. good art is art that poses a question."  Seriously folks, is that not the best moment of my teaching career?
I love my job and although it is such a long day, I really find such value in meeting parents....they need to meet the art teacher. They need to have a unique perspective on their child's learning.