HomeTeacher by day, Mommy by night
Member Since: October 28, 2007 Last Signed In: November 16, 2008 Blog Views: 3243 Send To A Friend Sign Guestbook Add as a Friend
There's Something to Those Old Wives' Tales
The List versus Reality In 24 hours... One Year Later Feeling Stuck It's been entirely too long You ain't lying! Making the world a better place Taking Time September: the month that would not die October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 
RSS 2.0    |
|
|
Taking Time
When I started teaching 8 years ago, I had a great mentor. She helped me with so many things: putting together lessons, dealing with tricky kids, and learning how to organize myself as a teacher. The most important thing she taught me was to take time for myself. I remember when we were planning my first six weeks. She sat me down and said, "Plan a day to take off in October, a mental health day." I was shocked, but she had a good point. She said I needed to know that my classes could exist without me. It's a piece of advice I give all newer teachers. So when I can, it's not always possible, I try to schedule a mental health day in October. Again, it's not always possible, especially the last couple of years. I have been saving my sick days for things like maternity leave, Em getting sick, and job interviews. This year, though, I'm good. So I took a day today. Everything this week has been coming to a head. Justin has a nasty, lingering cold (the best kind), Em's two-year molars are coming in (therefore, she's not sleeping or eating well...yay), and I have a group project to work on in my grad class (double yay.) And I came to a new conclusion yesterday as I was considering doing this. Unlike when I was single and taking days off for myself, these mental health days are for my family too now. Em needs a relaxing day at home as much as I do. And since I have class tomorrow, I won't be much help to Justin in terms of chores, so today I can do my part to help him out. Today our list includes cleaning the much abused kitchen, going to a park, doing some art, and of course, laundry. I know it'll be over before I know it, but I'm going to try to enjoy this slower, more gentler version of Friday. 5 comments from 5 users
1
posted by
creatress
on Oct 13, 2008 at 08:50 AM
posted by
MamaSeaShell
on Oct 13, 2008 at 09:06 AM
My Grandmother lives in Elk Grove. She is a special ed teacher for the Stockton Unified School Dist. She does the same thing. She actually uses her Sunday as her "mental health day". She is one of my mentors as well. Good to hear your blog this morning. Big smiles. posted by
hmoeckli
on Oct 13, 2008 at 07:24 PM
Thank you ladies! It was a great day and a great weekend. I was tired today, but I felt up to the challenges my day presented. And I even smiled...imagine that. :) posted by
kellimwheeler
on Oct 14, 2008 at 10:43 PM
It's amazing how finding the time to finally check a few things off the never ending To Do list can be as stress relieving as slipping off to the movies. Nice job recognizing that. I've actually go a box of Jr. Mints waiting for my upcoming mental health day... posted by
wifemotherdaughtersister
on Oct 15, 2008 at 07:17 AM
mental health day? you mean like going to re-fill anti-depressants? kidding. kind of. i think that it's great that you threw caution to the wind threw a wrench in your schedule. it seems strange to be out and about on a weekday huh?
1
|
Hey! I made a comment on this and it vanished. How irritating!
I SAID... what a great mentor you had. She's dead on and very smart. I'm really glad you took off the mental health day (I think we did it on the same day funnily enough.) Those are very important.