I'm having a good year. This is good . . .
We expect our teachers to always be positive, to always have energy, to always give 100% . . . well, sure, that's our job. We have to pretend that we aren't tired, that we aren't getting a cold, that we didn't have that argument with a friend or family member . . . But c'mon, we're human. We wouldn't be good at what we do if we didn't empathize with a student who is having a bad day. We wouldn't be good if we didn't know what it felt like to have our feelings hurt.
Quite frankly, it's hard, sometimes, to smile and be understanding and enthusiastic and encouraging. We're expected to observe disgruntled parents and bring compassion into our conversations with them. Maybe disgruntled parents could understand that sometimes teachers need a hug and a goodnight sleep. I sometimes wonder if parents, who are tired of their child's behavior, understand that we see the same things in school . . . only teachers really don't have the option of sending the child to their room. The highs of teaching can be like riding a great rollarcoaster but the lows are like riding a cheap carnival ride that makes you nauseaus.
Much to many people's assumption, teaching is and will never be a day job with weekends and summers off. I don't know any teacher who walks out of school and stops thinking of their students. The fact is, we are teachers 24 hours of the day . . . whether we want to or not. We work with our nation's most precious resource--our kids (hope that doesn't sound like a bad Hallmark card). Teaching kids is simply not a job but instead, an avocation that invades our entire being . . . and I'm okay with this on most days.
As I write this I'm thinking that I wouldn't want to have a day job. I hope I continue to have a good year!
