--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is just the first day; you’ll get…" description: "\"“This is just the first day; you’ll get used to it. The rewards will come later, from the kids themselves–and from the unlikeliest ones.”\" — Bel Kaufman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/bel-kaufman-13657_child_this-is-just-the-first-day-you-ll-get-us_1122442.png" --- # This is just the first day; you’ll get used to it. The… ![“This is just the first day; you’ll get used to it. The rewards will come later, from the kids themselves–and from the unlikeliest ones.” quote by Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/bel-kaufman-13657_child_this-is-just-the-first-day-you-ll-get-us_1122442.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/bel-kaufman-13657_child_this-is-just-the-first-day-you-ll-get-us_1122442.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/bel-kaufman-13657_child_this-is-just-the-first-day-you-ll-get-us_1122442.png) > ““This is just the first day; you’ll get used to it. The rewards will come later, from the kids themselves–and from the unlikeliest ones.”” [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Initial challenges are temporary; adaptation leads to later rewards, especially from unexpected sources like children. **In simple terms:** First days are tough, but later benefits appear. Key Takeaway Patience and openness bring hidden rewards. Themes learning growth children unexpected rewards Mood hopeful encouraging Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - starting a new job - teaching a class - volunteering with kids - learning a new skill Key Concepts Adaptation long‑term payoff mentorship Questions to Reflect On - What unexpected benefit have you received from a difficult start? - How can you stay motivated during early struggles? A Different Perspective Rewards may not materialize if expectations are unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [First Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-day/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Kids Unlikeliest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids-unlikeliest-3043854/) [Later Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/later-kids-3043855/) [Rewards Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards-come-339370/) [Unlikeliest Ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlikeliest-ones-3043856/) ## Related quotes > [“we persevere because we believe rewards will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/we-persevere-because-we-believe-rewards-will-come/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [The greatest rewards come only from the greatest commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-blum/the-greatest-rewards-come-only-from-the-greatest-commitment/) [Arlene Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-blum/) > [At a club like Chelsea, they have the money to buy world class strikers like Diego Costa, and there's also that pressure to win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bamford/at-a-club-like-chelsea-they-have-the-money-to-buy-world-class/) [Patrick Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bamford/) > [Doing deals doesn't yield the deep rewards that come from building up people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/doing-deals-doesn-t-yield-the-deep-rewards-that-come-from-building-up/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [The big rewards come to those who travel the second, undemanded mile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-barton/the-big-rewards-come-to-those-who-travel-the-second-undemanded-mile/) [Bruce Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-barton/) > [“The financial rewards come as a result of our dedication to the mission.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margie-k-aliprandi/the-financial-rewards-come-as-a-result-of-our-dedication-to-the/) [Margie K. Aliprandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margie-k-aliprandi/) > [Life's biggest rewards come from the biggest challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/life-s-biggest-rewards-come-from-the-biggest-challenges/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [Great rewards will come to those who can live together, learn together, work together, forge new ties that bind together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/great-rewards-will-come-to-those-who-can-live-together-learn-together/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [In the network model, rewards come by empowering others, not by climbing over them. If you work in a hierarchy, you may not want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naisbitt/in-the-network-model-rewards-come-by-empowering-others-not-by/) [John Naisbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naisbitt/) > [Remember: Rewards come in action, not in discussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/remember-rewards-come-in-action-not-in-discussion/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Writing offers fairly large rewards to a few successful people, but the rewards come late, and most writers are failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-cowley/writing-offers-fairly-large-rewards-to-a-few-successful-people-but/) [Malcolm Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-cowley/) > [“In life your rewards come from the gifts you give to others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-donaldson/in-life-your-rewards-come-from-the-gifts-you-give-to-others/) [Ken Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-donaldson/) > [The greatest rewards come when you give of yourself. It's about bettering the lives of others, being part of something bigger than yourself, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/the-greatest-rewards-come-when-you-give-of-yourself-it-s-about/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [This goes out to someone that was Once the most important person in my life I didn't realize it at the time I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aviation/this-goes-out-to-someone-that-was-once-the-most-important-person-in/) [Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aviation/) ## More by Bel Kaufman > [I like the word OLD. Not senior, that's for proms. Older? Older than whom? 'Old' is honorable and ripe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/i-like-the-word-old-not-senior-that-s-for-proms-older-older-than-whom/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [“What makes you think you’re so special? Just because you’re a teacher? What he was really saying was: You are so special. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/what-makes-you-think-you-re-so-special-just-because-you-re-a-teacher/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [“How can you wish on a turkey wishbone with a man who is capable of correcting a love letter?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/how-can-you-wish-on-a-turkey-wishbone-with-a-man-who-is-capable-of/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [Time collapses and expands like an erratic accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/time-collapses-and-expands-like-an-erratic-accordion/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [Education is not a product: mark, diploma, job, money-in that order; it is a process, a never-ending one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/education-is-not-a-product-mark-diploma-job-money-in-that-order-it-is/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [A teacher is frequently the only adult in the pupil's environment who treats him with respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/a-teacher-is-frequently-the-only-adult-in-the-pupil-s-environment-who/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [I am writing this during my lunch period, because I need to reach towards the outside world of sanity, because I am overwhelmed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/i-am-writing-this-during-my-lunch-period-because-i-need-to-reach/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [Learning is a process of mutual discovery for teacher and pupil. Keep an open mind to their unexpected responses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/learning-is-a-process-of-mutual-discovery-for-teacher-and-pupil-keep/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [When giving comes directly from the heart, it can never disappoint or embarrass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/when-giving-comes-directly-from-the-heart-it-can-never-disappoint-or/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [Children are the true connoisseurs. What’s precious to them has no price, only value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/children-are-the-true-connoisseurs-what-s-precious-to-them-has-no/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [“But I am busiest outside of my teaching classes. Do you know any other business or profession where highly-skilled specialists are required to tally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/but-i-am-busiest-outside-of-my-teaching-classes-do-you-know-any-other/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [Mythology is studied in the school system because most of us come from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/mythology-is-studied-in-the-school-system-because-most-of-us-come/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [But if there is such a thing as social commitment in literature, I think it must manifest itself in a reader's awareness of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/but-if-there-is-such-a-thing-as-social-commitment-in-literature-i/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [Laughter keeps you healthy. You can survive by seeing the humor in everything. Thumb your nose at sadness; turn the tables on tragedy. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/laughter-keeps-you-healthy-you-can-survive-by-seeing-the-humor-in/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [Education can't make us all leaders, but it can teach us which leader to follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/education-can-t-make-us-all-leaders-but-it-can-teach-us-which-leader/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) [Explore all 49 Bel Kaufman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) ## More Child quotes > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [“As parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-parents-who-make-every-effort-we-can-to-raise-our-children-in/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I'm a weirdo and an only child. That comes together to create one-woman shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-m-a-weirdo-and-an-only-child-that-comes-together-to-create-one/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/to-assist-a-child-we-must-provide-him-with-an-environment-which-will/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [if we center our lives on BMWs, RVs, VCRs, PCs and the other acronyms of consumerism, we cannot expect our children to do otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnetta-b-cole/if-we-center-our-lives-on-bmws-rvs-vcrs-pcs-and-the-other-acronyms-of/) [Johnnetta B. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnetta-b-cole/) > [Bring up your children in the way you think other peoples children should go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/bring-up-your-children-in-the-way-you-think-other-peoples-children/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) [Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/) > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) [Browse all 10,700 Child quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This is just the first day; you’ll get used to it. The rewards will come later, from the kids themselves–and from the unlikeliest ones.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bel Kaufman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/this-is-just-the-first-day-you-ll-get-used-to-it-the-rewards-will/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Child" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/this-is-just-the-first-day-you-ll-get-used-to-it-the-rewards-will/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/bel-kaufman-13657_child_this-is-just-the-first-day-you-ll-get-us_1122442.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/bel-kaufman-13657_child_this-is-just-the-first-day-you-ll-get-us_1122442.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/bel-kaufman-13657_child_this-is-just-the-first-day-you-ll-get-us_1122442.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is just the first day; you’ll get used to it. The rewards will come later, from the kids themselves–and…” — Bel Kaufman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bel Kaufman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“This is just the first day;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/this-is-just-the-first-day-you-ll-get-used-to-it-the-rewards-will/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/this-is-just-the-first-day-you-ll-get-used-to-it-the-rewards-will/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```