I'm Fine.

What is this "busy" you speak of?

Just busy as all get out. Sorry for the sucketh when it comes to posting. I would really love to get back on a regular schedule for stuff like posting and exercising. I'm surprised anyone even checks in over here from time to time.

So, in bullet form, here are a few random notes about me and mine:

• Classroom preparation is both fun and tortuous
• Am I getting too old for this shit? Because my body hurts from head to toe
• I'm cautiously optimistic that maybe my parents will adjust to assisted living
• I started a course of graduate study in special education
• Big mistake or bad idea?
• Attended approximately 1000 hours of meetings during the first official teacher week at school
• Complained bitterly about above-referenced meetings
• WORK WORK WORK! ALL I EVER DO AROUND HERE IS WORK!
• Dustballs the size of tumbleweeds abound here in the house
• Josh is in a foot cast! He has a stress fracture. He couldn't call me during the day yesterday to tell me because it was my first day of school, so he had to call Sasha, who then mocked him for being a baby.
• Where the hell is my iPod? Swear to God, I left it right here on the kitchen table
• Etc

Yesterday was the first day of school for students. Our classes are big this year, and I have some kids with challenging behavior issues. I'm a little apprehensive, honestly, but I know it will get better once I find my rhythm. The first few weeks are just so crazy with trying to teach them the routines and expectations.

We had some criers yesterday. One in my class and another in Ellen's class. Ellen's crier had to be peeled off the door frame and bodily carried into the classroom. Ha! That stuff is always kind of funny to me.

Even better, a friend of mine who is a guidance counselor at a different school posted on Facebook that she had to call the parent of a kindergartner and explain that in elementary school, children are expected to wipe their own bottoms after they poop. You parents kill me sometimes, I swear.

Gotta run. More later, I promise. My goal this week is to post at least ONCE before Friday, okay?

Comments

[Heidi]

Big mistake or bad idea? Those are our only choices?

And, I was waiting to hear which teachers were the criers, but apparently you were talking about the students.

Hang in there, Mary!

[Maggie]

Heidi - HA!

My son starts second grade next week (he's not a crier, I promise ;-) and I'm not looking forward to the start of the school year when we all run around like lunatics getting him to school before 8:00, my daughter to daycare, and me to work some time before dusk (ok 8:30). Chaos!

[FC]

Sounds like you may have a stress fracture.

[TC]

We NEED more good special ed teachers, so I'm choosing "none of the above."

[Pam L]

Your parents WILL adjust, my errant Dad, who escaped and hit people, is now a model citizen at Clare Bridge! He goes to the sing alongs and musical shows and enjoys them even though his hearing isn't good. He can feel/hear the music I guess, just not the lyrics.
You are younger than me, I think, but I am getting too old for stuff too, like this huge house and garden , not that either are huge, but it's tiring and Jay and I are starting to talk about one level living and downsizing the house and the yard, not that we can afford to move anywhere.
When I volunteered in Paul's 1st grade class there was a boy who cried every day for 2 weeks when his Mom brought him to the door. She should have just sent him in but she came to the door which made it worse. My boys did not cry once, and the older one went on his first sleep-over in the mountains at age 4 with a wave, but they still loved and missed me, right?

[the bee]

We have employees w/challenging behavior issues.
I know yoiu will get these kids in apple pie order. You have a lot on your plate. School, parents and being a student plus Josh's boo-boo.
Dr Bee's Rx is tons of sushi and sake.

[Margaret]

Honestly, crazy idea--but it's a good career move. I'm already too stressed out just with WORKING. Ugh, why can't my paycheck just come in the mail without me having to get up early and stuff? Parents, um yeah, we have "some" issues with them at the high school level too. :)

[MsCellania]

I dunno about you, but I would go with the biggest bang for my retirement buck about now. Would your pay scale go up faster in SpEd? How many more layers of paperwork would there be? Definitely more meetings involved in SpEd. How about ELL teacher (ESL - never know what to call it these days)? You are kinda doing that now without the fancy title...

[maddy]

I really don't like parents at all--that's why I teach college students. Of course, I always think that I am the NICE parent that teachers like.

Josh, get well soon.

Hope your parents are adjusting well.

[maddy]

Also, re: special ed. My sister-in-law, who is a funny, smart and all-around cool person teaches special ed (high school). She really loves it. It does get trying at times (not just the kids--the paperwork and other issues), but she does have a great sense of humor and manages to be zen about it all.

[Belle]

Was wondering about you and if school had started. You teachers must see and experience every kind of kid possible....over and over. We had one, the son, who I physically had to drag down the hallway, pulling him while he planted his feet in protest. The daughter was rarin' to go but totally pissed off when she walked in the door that evening because "they did not teach me how to read today!". Ha.

Hoping you have a great school year and that the folks do, indeed, settle in. And poor Josh.

[Liza Lee Miller]

Wipe their own bottoms . . . what sort of nonsense are you expecting from these sweet little darlings. Really . . . your expectations are just all out of whack!

Chortle! The stories I could tell!

[bonnie]

No time for a poem;
Om shanti, shanti, om!

[Laura/DaPFG]

Bonnie and the bee....those girls kill me.

also, between the two choices, i pick neither.

you're so fab it hurts.

[Cathy S.]

I fear I was a helicopter parent for firstborn. But, he did know how to wipe his own butt when he went to school. Youngest refused to let me hover. Was independent and determined from the day he was born. Hope this is a good school year for you. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Josh.

[Karen]

I pop over to read because I love your posts - especially the teaching ones. Parents - they're the same in Australia; except for the ones who don't hover, but fly off and leave their children to fend for themselves...

[vicki]

Which is worse, having to ask the teacher to wipe your fanny or being cast to the dingos? Hard choice, that.

FINALLY. A picture of Pushkin.

[sulu-design]

Shit. Each and every one of your posts manages to make me laugh out loud. And I'm a hardened, critical bastard who never laughs out loud. Kind of. Your posts also always make me grateful that I turned in a resignation letter three years ago. But I'm thankful for the behind-the-scenes stories that make me miss teaching, too. Wiping a kindergartener's ass. Shessh!

[Cazza]

*ahem* Which Friday, dearest Mary?

Only kidding. I know how difficult life can be for those of our ilk. And I'm not even working at the moment but am battling the black dog. Damned black dog.

Hope your new charges are pleasantly challenging and your parents are behaving.

How did Josh get a stress fracture or have I skimmed something?

Cheers, my friend, it's wine/sake time.