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Teacher by day, Mommy by night

Teacher by day, Mommy by night
Juggling the demands (and insanity) of being a high school teacher, a wife, and a mother to a toddler
About hmoeckli


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October 28, 2007
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November 18, 2009
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hmoeckli - > Teacher by day, Mommy by night -> Will the WHOLE WORLD Just be QUIET!?!
Will the WHOLE WORLD Just be QUIET!?!
My family has transitioned back to our busy time. Justin is back in his credential program, so he doesn't get home until 8 or 9 nine every night. My graduate courses are intensifying. And we have a birthday coming up every weekend in February.

I'm already exhausted and I haven't done anything yet.

Feeling rather raw around the edges the other day, I started to think about the causes of my energy drain. I think I figured it out:

I always have to know all the answers.

Now, I know many parents feel this way, so I'm not trying to say I have it worse than others. I'm just happy that I have maybe figured out a problem in my day-to-day life.

So, here, in question format, is a description of my Wednesday:

Morning: I wake up with cats meowing for food. Then, Justin starts in--"Where's my belt?" "Where's my black pants?" Then, Emerson--"I want breakfast. Where's breakfast?" "Where's my puppy?" "I don't want to wear THAT jacket. Where's my Dora jacket?"

Drive to Work: We had the NPR fund drive this week. Not to sound evil, but it really gets grating. "Why can't you donate?" "Don't you enjoy all we do?" Yes, I do. I already donated. Then Em starts in--"Mommy, I want a song." "Not THAT song?" "Where's Daddy." I gave in and turned to music, but I ended up feeling frazzled.

The real fun begins--Morning Meetings: I met with my boss and she hit me with "What are you doing to include all members of your team?" "Why do you use whiteboards THAT way? Why not use them this way?" "Why does English 10 not have a grammar unit and assessment yet?" Then, I had a meeting with other teachers: "Why do we have to teach poetry?" "What's the point of teaching rhyme?" "What are we going to do next?"

And then my "real" job starts"--I cannot possibly list all of the questions 180 teenagers can level at a person, but here are the highlights. "What are we doing?" "Why are we writing?" "Do you have a pencil?" "Do we have to do this?" "When do we get out of here?" "Can you help me?" The important thing to point out is that all these questions are happening simultaneously.

Evening: Then I have class with my superintendent who asks things like "Where do you see educational technology going in the next 20 years?" "What is the biggest problem facing teachers now?" "How are you going to close the achievement gap?"

Thank God that I got home in time to watch Lost. While it has it's own questions, I'm not actually responsible for answering any of them, which is a rare and beautiful thing.
Topics: dual-career mom, education, exhaustion
posted by hmoeckli on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 11:31 AM
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4 comments from 4 users

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posted by creatress on Jan 31, 2009 at 06:32 PM

I hear you on the NPR thing. I wish they would give you access to a secret station once you already donate so you don't have to listen to the pledge drive anymore.

And yes, we DO have all the answers. Shhhh, don't tell your husband or daughter about the special book we got in the hospital when we delivered. HAhahah, I can SO relate to that.

I'm sorry you're so stretched right now. All I can do is send sympathetic thoughts your way.

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posted by hmoeckli on Feb 1, 2009 at 08:40 AM
Luckily I have had a really relaxing weekend. We got up late yesterday, took things real slow, and today we are going out for breakfast. It's been a nice couple of days. I feel better.
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posted by AmandaS on Feb 1, 2009 at 04:55 PM
My husband and I have a running joke about a time where he was in a total state of exasperation asking me what I did with his wood glue. My response "we have wood glue?" 

BTW, the original incident took place about 8 years ago. I still use this as a catch phrase when he asks me stupid questions that I would have no way of knowing the answer to.

Oh, and for your grammar lesson...never end a sentence in a preposition (See above)
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posted by wifemotherdaughtersister on Feb 2, 2009 at 06:44 AM
oh man!  for example:  yesterday my husband asks me what time the superbowl started.
  #1:  i hate sports, why would i even care?
 #2:  we have no tv.  again how would i know or care?
#3:  he hates sports.  why would he even care?
UUUGGGHHHHH!!!

so yes, we all are the source of infinate knowledge and wisdom regardless of the question.  it's nice to be held so highly, but seriously, with the exception of the little ones STHU!!!!!
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