What a Teacher Won't Tell You About the First Day of School

 

Meet the Teacher Night...pulled off by the skin of our teeth. The awesome 4th grade team. 

She won't tell you sometimes she wonders why she does this job. 

That sometimes it isn't enough to pay the bills. 

That she is now scraping by because of the $500 dollars or more it took to just get her classroom started for the beginning of the year.

That all of the supplies except copy paper and the donations parents bring in are provided by her. 

That she worked 12 hour days for a week to get that classroom presentable for her new students this year, abandoning her diet, life, exercise routine and gained a pound because of it all. 

That she couldn't sleep because of the anxiety and giddiness that welled up in her all at once for the new school year.

That she spent hours on Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers to find great ideas for the classroom and lessons. 

That she has all of these ideas and not enough time to do them all.

That she was just as nervous about the first day of school this morning as she was when she moved schools in 2nd grade. 

That she put her head in her hands and cried tears of desperation Wednesday night after trying to corral her children into helping her all day and realizing she couldn't do it all. That the Lord heard her desperate call for help and help came. In the form of dinner, and friends arriving in the nick of time Thursday before meet the teacher. Her testimony was strengthened that HE hears her prayers. 

That she moved every desk and chair and item of furniture into that classroom with the help of friends and colleagues. 

That she got a pedicure, her hair done and whitened her teeth to be ready for school.

That she prays for her students and their parents EVERY night. 

That she wants to be loved by her students and their families. It is important to her because she loves them so much. 

She won't tell you that she woke up at five to shave her legs, and work on school things at home before her own children awoke and needed her. 

She even tried on four outfits and three pairs of shoes. 

She couldn't decide on what color of lipstick. Natural or hot pink? Natural...shouldn't scare the kids too soon. 

She ate oatmeal.

She got a Diet Coke.

She worried that Einstein, the beta fish she bought might be sick already. Plus, she told her class that he was magic and that they could tell him all of their problems or worries...now what if he died. That is not a great magical fish. Hmph.

She was so happy to see all of her friends and colleagues, she hopes they all see her as a friend. She already loves them all so. They all know what it is like to be in her shoes. 

She loves her bosses. She couldn't work anywhere else. They are AMAZING. 

She greeted every student happily and with love even when they arrived at the same time she did...EARLY and she needed to get some things done. 

She beamed as each of her old students ran up to her and hugged her at least twice today from last year. Her heart swelled for these amazing children. Her heart also ached a little because she missed them and wondered if she would love her new little class as much as she did last year. She will, she always does.

She laughed with her coworkers about afternoon duty in the horrid heat and getting all schweaty and stinky. 

She decided that tomorrow was a shorts day for sure. 

She giggled as a co-worker summed up the exhaustion that was felt by all quoting a second grader. He was all alone, forlorn looking, at parent pick-up. She asked him, "What grade are you in?" He replied, "I can't remember." She said, "Do you have any older brothers and sisters?" He said exhaustedly, "I have a Mom." (Heart Melter) 

She won't tell you that she rushed to pick up her kids. They had been generously and lovingly taken care of by a friend all day because their school had not started yet and their Dad was out of town.  

All she could think of was a Diet Coke and all the things she needed to do still. 

That she went to the gym totally exhausted and was reprimanded by her trainer and told she needed to be on a daily text check in. She had gained weight instead of lost it. She was still thinking about that Diet Coke. 

She was sad to hear Robin Williams passed away. 

She was also keenly aware of the man she had been on that awkward breakfast date. Also training at the same time WITH her trainer. What are the odds? You know....she blogged about it. She was tired and pretended that she didn't see him. He did the same. Good. It's mutual. 

She finally got that soda fountain Diet Coke. She earned it.

If it wasn't hard, It wouldn't be worth it. She is helping to build the future and she loves what she does. 

XOXO-The Sunny D