Instructions: Handle with care...

This post is a self-reflection, maybe a warning to my potential students and their parents...
Maybe I shouldn't expose myself so much, but I've got nothing to hide!
So here it goes:

• I don't go by the book! I do use a coursebook and grammar and test books but this is not everything. I use songs, videos, magazines, pictures from Facebook, Instagram, even Quotes from people on Facebook, as prompts for discussion.  I also use these apps as a break when I see that my students need time to unwind... Yes we lose maybe 3-5 minutes from the lesson, shoot me!
• I don't like exams. I don't believe in this "certificate - system". For me learning a language means knowing how to use the language, not pass the exam or get a certificate...
• My primary goal when I start working with new students is to make them love the language, get them interested, motivated. Covering the whole book is not important...
• And yes, it is not that important to take 1000 tests and essays before the exam... It just makes the students stressed. I do not believe in pressure.
• Am I strict? NO I AM NOT! I don't believe in commanding my students as if they were soldiers. This doesn't mean that I am against strict teachers. It's just not my style.
• Am I close to my students? Yes I am! I am their older friend. I know that most people do not believe that this can happen. I am there for them. I share my life with them, they share their life with me. They trust me. That's good....
• No I am not a traditional teacher, I am a little crazy, isn't everybody?
• Yes, sometimes I get tired,especially if I have worked for 8 hours straight. Sometimes I get sleepy... I am only human...
• I am totally kinaesthetic. If I don't move or do something with my hands, I cannot concentrate. So when I have a private lesson you will always find me writing or drawing on my books, switching on and of my mobile phone, even browsing pictures on instagram or facebook. This doesn't mean I am not concentrated on my work or that I am chatting online during my lessons!!!
• I don't keep things from people. When there is a problem I say it. And I appreciate straight-forward people. Holding grudges or intentionally keeping secrets from me is as if you told me that you consider me a stupid blonde (although I am not a blonde anymore)
• Am I a good teacher? I don't know that. I know that I totally love my job, I give my whole self to it. And I don't do it for the money. It's because I want to pass my knowledge to people. It's because I am proud of all my students, old and new. I am proud of everybody who studies or works abroad and I know that I helped a bit too to make it happen! I am proud when I see that my students become teachers, I am proud when my students are able to communicate when abroad. And I really love it when after years they come and say hi!

My writing all this doesn't mean that I don't respect other teachers and parents who have different opinions. But I believe that honesty IS the best policy.
Maybe I am not the best teacher for everybody, maybe some people find my ways TOO innovative or too "rebellious" and I don't blame them.
But being open-minded is not a bad thing... giving new ways a chance is something we should all do.

I started writing this because I got really upset today. Some people told me not to take things personal, but I do take it personal when somebody judges me on my work without seeing the actual results.  
Anyway... that's it... feel free NOT to agree with what I said...