Overwhelmed and Surprise!

I did not post yesterday because the day SUCKED. Seriously. It was just bad. The kids were okay and everything but I got to work late because I had to drop off The Oldest at school and then I was behind and blah blah. I felt like I was rushing around all day and I hate that, especially when I worked so much of Sunday trying to be a good teacher and give the most I can to my students.

Then we had our data meeting. Just shoot me now. Please. This is NOT why I became a teacher. At all. While I am all about looking at my data and making instructional decisions BASED on that data, filling out a huge packet of forms for someone else (of which I will NEVER look at again I'm sure) is ridiculous. And they are changing the form so it's a whole new process of figuring out how to use the new forms and blah blah. Then we were told we HAD to take a full day the day we have our Reading Training so we can do the new data forms with Mrs. Principal. Our coach told us we could take a separate day if we wanted. I put my foot down on that one -- we're already gone a half day on November 10, why not just take the day and get it done?? I am NOT taking ANOTHER whole freaking day to look at stupid data crap that won't mean anything to me the next day!! 

So I left last night feeling very stressed out, pissy and just overwhelmed. I didn't bring anything home and thank goodness because I totally forgot that The Oldest had conferences. They only hold them one day of the whole semester and it is always a Monday (ie the WORST day for me to go). I always want to eat naughty food when I am stressed and I wanted The Husband to go to conferences with us, taking the younger two girls also, and then go get nachos for dinner. He wouldn't budge about it and I got upset -- we are not rolling in the dough by any means but he is SUCH a penny pincher and when I feel that stressed and bitchy, I just want my way! So we got into a fight over it which was just stupid. Then I had to take The Oldest to her conferences and I was feeling pissy as it was. Grr. I said something on FaceBook about just wanting to go to bed and put the day to rest and a friend commented that it didn't sound like me at all and was I okay.

Both of my grade level team partners told me today that I am always so positive and "sunny" that they couldn't IMAGINE me being that upset. Mrs. E said "well I don't know you well enough to know how you carry your stress I guess because I think you always have a great attitude and you're SO flexible". It made me feel better to have her say that. Today was MUCH better (except for the excessive freaking talking -- oy!) and I left right at 3:25 and came home. The Husband is even picking up The Littles. I came home early to get some work done (and look what I'm doing -- ha!) and I'm glad he will pick up the small girls too. He is also going to take them to the Pumpkin Patch to pick out their Halloween pumpkins. I am not sad in the slightest that I am not going to be there with them to do that -- they need some quality time with their dad and I need a bit of time to myself. I KNOW he realizes that because I am never bitchy to him over stupid stuff unless I feel super overwhelmed. So I need to apologize to him because it's not his fault that my district makes a mountain out of a mole hill and makes things SO much harder than they need to be.

I got a big surprise in my classroom today -- two actually. We were minding our own business and doing our stations and small group time and imagine my utter SHOCK when Dr. G (aka my boss's boss!) just walks in. Thankfully the whole class was engaged and working. Whew! Secondly just before last recess two fabulous ladies came to my room and brought me a bag of goodies! Our secretary told us when the year started to sign up for this campaign by a local credit union to get school supplies. I did and forgot all about it. Imagine my shock when they come today with a huge (reusable!) bag of goodies -- pencils, glue, post-its, paper, fun crayons, pencil sharpeners, stickers, etc. I was SO surprised and the kids all clapped. They think I am awesome because of all of the freebies we keep getting simply because I ask for them! So cool.

Additionally today I was feeling the love from my kids. I got a plastic ring, a bracelet (that is WAY too small lol), a homemade ring (made with pipe cleaner but it kept poking me), a homemade pipe cleaner bracelet with beads on it and best of all A FROG made of beads! I am going to have to take a picture of it. It's so cute! (I left my phone at home today so no picture.) One of my boys made it for me! Mrs. E said "awww, see they love you!" Definitely makes me feel better when I feel like I'm such a hag to them all the time. I think they get it though -- I can love on them and treat them well but I think they like me more because I DO push them, and I DO hold them to high standards. They will thank me some day, that's for sure!