Teacher Holiday Hangover

Spoiler Alert: I am sorry to disappoint you but this hangover I am talking about has nothing to do with alcohol. 

The holidays and teaching are like two words that should go together like puppies and kittens. This time of year requires the professionalism of a CEO and the grace of Jesus. It's true. 

I'd love to outline just one of my days for you: Up at 6 at work by 7:30, teach all day, flat tire, three hours at BIG O tire for the flat fix and an oil change. I luckily had running clothes in the car so while I was waiting I graded a stack of papers and then headed out for a run. I rushed to my daughters choir concert where I barely made it into the wing of the stage where I could luckily slip in because I was staff. I get to watch the concert, run to grocery store to bring treats to my Book Club holiday party. I walked in and was telling the girls about my day and one asked, "Did you have the day off?" 

I WISH. That was AFTER work and my kids were at their Dad's. Add the kiddos into the mix.....crazy town.

Put this on repeat for two straight weeks interchanging different concerts, school functions, church functions, scenarios. There were three nights in a row I wasn't home before ten. It can be challenging. 

Second grade Christmas concert we had a role to play where we walked across the stage in aprons and hot chocolate mugs while the children sang beautifully....amidst cat calls...that may or may not have been family members of mine. Probably. Let's hope. 

Now all of this stuff is fun but it is BUSY and it takes its toll even when you are trying to take very good care of yourself and eat healthy foods, exercise, keep the house clean, work, be a Mom....Oh, and get ready for Christmas!

My cute baby Ellie at one of her choir concerts. She has the MOST AMAZING choir director. Mr. Rittenhouse never disappoints in his concerts. They are amazing! 

I tried. I didn't get Christmas cards out, I didn't make treats for friends at church or neighbors, I didn't buy my friends gifts. I did however work all the way until December 22 and I did my best. I made ONE, ONE batch of cookies. 

I did prep healthy foods which helped me to feel good and have energy!

I did try to release stress by getting some exercise on the regular even if that meant forgoing a date on a Friday or Saturday night to hit the gym. A girl has to function. In fact on this run I hit a mileage high since I have been able to run again at 5.5 miles which felt so good. 

In lieu of a parent gift this year I used the money I would normally spend to buy fabric to make a blanket. Each child in my class helped to tie the blanket and this morning my own personal children and I delivered it to the Child Crisis Center. I had my class make a Christmas card explaining that I wanted them to feel the true spirit of giving and Christmas. I wanted to really teach them what true joy is. We made handmade ornaments for their tree but used craft materials I already had and glitter. They wrapped those up too. 

On the last day of class I had a fire projected on my projector screen and Christmas music. We had a lovely day together. I love that little class of mine. We had a nacho party with a game. As my parent helpers were passing out the nachos I was occupying my class with a game of bingo. It was so well planned and smooth...until a poor child threw up all over the front of the classroom. It was cleaned up promptly and we went on with our party. However, I had not really eaten anything and could not shake the headache and feelings of nausea I was having. School ended, my little second grade cherubs went on their way to their homes and I started to crash. 

It was like the end of a marathon..mile 22 when your IT bands are seizing up and you are just. trying. to. get. to. the. finish. line.

And then all of a sudden you are there. 

I was home by 4:30 and I had such a roaring headache I lay down for a minute. Minute meaning, I didn't wake up until 8:30 the next morning! I ran some errands, got my car washed, (Merry Christmas to me!), cleaned, and crashed again for two and a half hours. I woke up folded laundry, hit the gym and a movie. That is the Holiday Hangover. You think you have the flu too but you are just exhausted. 

I think nearly every teacher I know experiences the "teacher hangover." In order to get over it you have to sleep for at least 12 hours straight, with naps intermittently for then following 36 hours. Then VOILA, you are back to being you! This is why school breaks are necessary and not a luxury. I feel like this for the first 36 hours of every school break. Thank goodness we have them!

I love being a teacher. It is a job that challenges me in SO many wonderful ways. There is continued growth and learning. I love the holidays with my second graders. I love their tender hearts. I love going to the holiday concerts. I love when I stop being busy because I am then able to stop and just be grateful for my blessings, my job, the quiet, the rest, my friends, my children. I literally have awoken each morning with gratitude in my heart and feeling so thankful. I love that. It is really hard to work all the way up until the 22nd of December but I am excited that now I get two whole weeks off. I am so excited for 2018. This last year was so good to me in so many ways I can't wait to see what the future holds. In the meantime though, I will just enjoy today, that it is a slow day, Christmas Eve Day, enjoying church services and my children and family kind of day. 

I hope your Christmas is filled with love, hope, and warmth. 

XOXO- The Sunny D