It’s Not Easy Being a Teacher

My job as a second grade teacher is rewarding, but ever so challenging. It isn’t like any other job I’ve experienced. I’m sure any educator would agree that it is the multitasking that is the most difficult aspect. Mothers are the closest people who may be able to understand and sympathize with what we have to do every day, and the moms with more children understand even more. We are now up to twenty-five students in our classrooms. The addition of five extra students makes the job so much harder.

Imagine how difficult it would be simply babysitting twenty-five children. Now factor in not only a six hour stretch, but also being responsible for the children’s education. Next add in the fifty, or more, guardians that the teacher must know personally, and don’t forget that the children have siblings, most of whom the teacher already knows. Then there is all of their supplies, backpacks, lunches, homework, and other daily checks that must be made. It's a recipe for disaster - unless the teacher is 100% mentally on top of things.

Guess who’s not mentally on top of things?

Even though my schedule has been reduced to three days a week for my first six weeks back, I am exhausted, and unfortunately, in pain. I’ve been having at least two headaches a week since last week when I was getting ready to go back to work. The headache I got yesterday before school let out was relieved with my prescription, Ibuprophen, but it’s back again this morning. Since the headache didn’t go away, I’m assuming that it’s a migraine, so I’ve now had to take the migraine medicine, Imitrex. It’s taken most of the pain away, but not all.

I truly missed my classroom. I enjoy working with the students immensely. I know the material intimately, and I feel gifted in the way I present it to my students. I love sharing knowledge with others, especially young people. I enjoy sharing time with the little ones, and I like that my profession gives me a chance to be silly, funny, entertaining, and smart. I love reading books, doing math and science, creating writing and art projects with children, and I like watching the kids develop and grow.

It’s difficult for me to accept that I am not physically cut out for much more of this job that I love. But next year the state is threatening putting in another three students, and I can’t even manage to get through the day with twenty-five. Twenty-eight students in the classroom sounds impossible.

I’m looking at four days off until the next time I will return to work. I have a TON of things I’ve brought home to review, correct, analyze, and prep. I’m not sure how I will get all of it done, but I know I have to do something because conferences and report cards are looming out there in the next four weeks. For now, my goal is simply to get my headaches managed. It’s difficult to even remember the turtles when it feels like there is pain throbbing through the brain. I guess it’s time to email the doctor.