It’s been three weeks since my kids started school. Two and a half since I started.
It’s not going well. The days are long and hard. There is a lot of unhappiness, frustration, anger, upset. There are raised voices and tears and sighs and screams. I want to say we’re finding a rhythm but we’re not really. Maybe it will come.
I work constantly. I’m tired all the time. I don’t know how to turn off and stop working, because there is always more to do and never enough time. I start working the moment I wake up and the last thing I do before bed every night is on my computer. I spend every waking moment that I’m not with my kids doing work.
I know it’s not sustainable and yet… it doesn’t feel like it works otherwise. I think I can take a weekend day away from work every week but that is about it.
This past week was especially brutal. Wednesday I taught three 70 minute block periods, went to a two hour training and then talked to parents on zoom for over an hour for Back to School Night. Thursday my brain was mush, but I had two more 70 minute periods to teach.
This weekend I have to review 150 “getting to know you” slide decks and ideally make a short comment on each. I have to input five scores for each of those 150 students. I have to create more asynchronous work for next week, and plan my synchronous periods.
I’m glad Monday is a holiday. I totally forgot about Labor Day this year and was so thrilled when I was reminded it was this weekend. I need a day off, and it hasn’t even been a month of school yet.
We still wake up to unhealthy air quality most mornings. Our house smells like smoke until noon most days. It’s been almost two weeks since the fires started and we still don’t go outside much.
This is hard. And I have it better than most. The news is so depressing I can’t even read it. I honestly don’t know what else to say.
It was not my intent to come here and drop despair all over my site, but I realized that if I didn’t I might never come back.
Right there with you – this is so hard. Trying to just take it one day at a time…
Yes, one day at a time. Good luck to you too!
Sorry that things are so hard right now. Cut corners and lower expectations for yourself wherever and whenever you can. This is not a typical time so it’s not reasonable to expect the typical quality of output from teachers either (while knowing that of course you want to do right by your students).
Thanks. I am trying to make it work. I have a post in the works about all the corners we are cutting but it’s still so hard! My 1t grader is really struggling and that sucks the energy out of everyone. Hopefully it will get better.
THANK YOU for the amazing work you are doing on behalf of your students and family.
I have written and erased this paragraph 3 times now. Some district school boards are not providing teachers or students the means to teach and learn. Thank you for your efforts and sacrifices. I am proud of the efforts of your family also.
You son IS smart and does live in a well-educated household with good access to materials so he can, eventually, overcome this giant setback. But it is wrong that this happens to him. This in no way eases the ugliness.
You are not alone at all; but that too does not help.
It did not have to be like this….. but that too does not help that it is.
MUCH SUPPORT!!!!!!!
I am glad you get this 3 day weekend. Please take/find some time for yourself, you need it. WE cannot afford to have you ill in any way.
Smoke and heat will be terrible this weekend where I am and in many parts of the state. EVERYONE: TAKE CARE!!!
Concerned.