School is out on Friday. I am so ready to spend my days with my little man! I have a running list of all the things I want to do and experience this summer with him! :)
We are also going to the beach!! I can’t wait. My family is a BIG beach family and I am so excited to introduce the ocean to Trey this summer! We usually go every year. It is super important to me that Trey like water and feel safe in water. So I am also thinking of taking some mommy and me swim classes at the YMCA. I think early exposure is key. My dad has a pool at his house so I foresee lots of visits to Grandpa’s as well. :)
Keith and I are also moving. We’ve been in the process of selling our house and buying another. It’s been a “fun” process and we will be moving later this month assuming all the closings go smoothly. So that will be another thing that will be occupying a lot of my time.
The only thing that bothers me is the comments I get from people about how lucky I am to be a teacher and get my whole summer off. So really quickly let me just say….eff off! HA! :) But seriously, I had someone the other day sigh, roll their eyes and say, “Oh the life of a teacher.” Seriously Dude!?!?! First off during the school year I am at work every day by 6:30a.m. (before your alarm even goes off). I am not usually home until 4:00 (at the earliest). Once I do the wife and mom thing, I usually have some papers that need grading, lamination that needs cutting, or planning for the coming weeks ahead. I do it after Trey’s asleep. I easily work 11-12+ hour days during the school year. Then over the summer, I get it, I get off for 2 months. But that doesn’t mean I’m not working. I still have summer continuing education classes to attend, a new classroom to set up, planning for a new year and materials to be copied, cut and put together for the beginning of the year. So isn’t like I sit around eating bons bons all day long. So yeah, the life of a teacher. And don’t even get me started that if you broke down my salary across the hours I work…I’ll just stop there. Because why should we pay teachers (the ones responsible for educating America’s youth) a salary competitive with other careers?
But let me be the first to say that the life of a teacher is pretty great! I get to be around kids every day. I get to share in their excitement when they realize they CAN master a math problem or ace a language arts quiz. I get hugs, lots of them, every day from children who look up to me and make me want to be a better person. The notes slipped on my desk that say “I love you” or the excitement in their eyes when they tell me about their weekend all make the life of a teacher pretty great. The tears at the end of the year because they miss you and the courage you see develop because you believe in them makes the life of a teacher pretty great. I do welcome summer vacation with open arms so I can go be a full time mommy to Trey.
But don’t let that confuse you. The life of a teacher is great and it has nothing to do with summer break.
Filed under: life, Motherhood Tagged: summer, summer vacation, teacher, Trey
