My Morning...

I woke up this morning to an awake Silas, babbling to himself in his crib. After getting him up, changing him from his somehow all wet pajamas, and feeding him, I brought him back into bed with me (and Dusty). Even though I was wishing he would fall back asleep, I couldn't help but smile at his chatter and think about what today would've been like without him here...

Before Silas:
Today I would've gotten out of bed EARLY, probably around 4:00am, after not sleeping very well the entire night because my mind would've been racing about everything I needed to do for the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! I would've gotten to school as soon as the doors were unlocked after first stopping at Walmart or the grocery store because I remembered something that I wanted to have on the first day.

I'd get to my classroom and try to finish getting everything ready for THE DAY that would set the tone and attitude for my students for the rest of the year. As a teacher, you pretty much get ONE SHOT at winning the kids over and that's the first day (but a teacher has to have a "first day" several times throughout the year when new students show up, so the tone and attitude have to stick).

Between 8:00 and 8:15 I'd look at my room and think, "It's as good as it's gonna get" and head outside with the other teachers to start greeting the students and help them find their classroom line where they will line up every morning for the rest of their year with us. This is the time I am EXTRA "happy" as I'll excitedly greet students from the year before, chat with my new students and sing a silly song or jump up and down in the cooler weather, or do anything I could to stick out as a "different" teacher. SMILE SMILE SMILE. My face would hurt by the end of the day because my students needed to know that this was going to be a great year. Their new classroom was going to be one full of positive energy, excitement, and celebrating the simple things. Their teacher was a little "out there" but there was something about her that made them want to come back the next day. I needed to make enough of an impression that they'd go home and have something to share with their parent(s) - even if it was that their teacher was weird, but in a good way.

I'd be lucky to make it to the bathroom on this day. I'd be running around like a chicken with its head cut off - with a smile of course - trying to squeeze all the necessary things into the short day we had together. By the time I'd say goodbye to the children, I'd be exhausted. But, my afternoon was just beginning. There'd be so many more things that I'd need to prepare for the following days. For the first month of school my hours would be from dark until dark. My husband would look at me like I was crazy for spending so much time at school. But it takes a teacher to understand. The second month my hours would be from slightly dark to slightly dark, and as the months continued, I'd be on a better schedule, but NEVER an "8 hour day." The work is never done. You're never completely prepared. There's always more you can do.

Instead, today, I'm drinking a cup of coffee at the time I'd be meeting my students outside. I'm playing with my son on the floor as he crawls around and discovers new things. I'm writing this blog. I'm incredibly happy.

Teaching elementary. A job that consumes your life like a crazy whirlwind from the first day to the last day. A job that only other teachers will truly understand.

Love up on your children's teachers. Because teachers are ALWAYS thinking about what they can do better to help your children succeed.