So I will start by saying some of you might not get this post...and that is ok. Those who teach and love their job will and I know some others will too.
I live in Neverland.....I never grow up. I have been in high school (with the exception of the four years I went to college ages 18-22) since I was 14...I am 32 now. I have spent more time there than anywhere else. In fact for the last nine years I have even lived in the exact same room. Although the layout of the room changes (I get antsy and I have to change my classroom layout every year or two) it is the same room...330. To be honest unless something happens like we get a new school I will spend the next 25 years in that room. Most days I love it. I am so happy surrounded by the things in my classroom. My posters, the desks, my desk with all my organizers and sticky notes on it. Even on the craziest moments of my life (dealing with deaths, my husband's depression, the anticipation of the birth of my children) that room has brought me peace and calm. Every day that room gets filled up with light and sunshine. It gets filled with the laughter and joy of 100 teenagers. Also, if we are being honest it gets filled with hate, anger, angst, and teenage drama as well (the kind of drama only high school seniors can have). Yet, I love it even when the kids are bad, when I am told to go fuck myself, or when the stack of papers to grade on my desk are bigger than my dog.
In the other room around me are dear friends-my second family. Although sometimes we don't always get along I love them. They are crazy, and unique, and the smartest people I know. Even the Captain Hooks of my Neverland (my bosses) are sort like the Captain Hook on Jack and the Neverland Pirates-More clueless than mean. Most of the year my Neverland is the greatest place on Earth and I get to be Peter Pan-The star of the show for 181 days of the year.
Yet, there is one day of the year that I hate to be Peter Pan-Graduation Day. Just like Peter Pan my kids grown up and they leave me behind. I have spend the entire year getting to know them, their families, their lives and in one quick moment they are gone. The hardest thing about teaching seniors, other than senioritis, is that they graduate. This year was especially hard, my homeroom-the kids who I saw every morning for four years in a row, graduated. I was a crying mess as they walked across stage with diploma in hand. They all move on to the amazing things that await them in life. The things that a teacher always hopes for them. College, the military, jobs, families, and all the great stuff that life has in store for them. I am not sad for them...they get to grow up. I am just sad that I have to be Peter Pan and be left behind again.
But-come the end of August I will get all new kids filling up my classroom with light, excitement, and of course angst...I will forget about the sting of having them "leave the nest" until the next graduation. I guess it is a good thing that the other 180 days in Neverland are so great that I always forget about that one bad day!
Prior to my hiatus from blogging I was asked to review a fun looking book. It is a book written from a dog's perspective. It immediately caught me as something worth reviewing because how many times have I looked my pup in the eye and wondered what she was thinking. Also, lets be honest I often make a voice for my dog and speak dialog on her behalf. I read this book in a very short amount of time because it was just so stinking funny. It acts like a series of interview from 11 dogs, include Tinkerbell a spoiled Chihuahua, Orson a food crazed bulldog, Sophie an older cocker spaniel, and Sarge a Germany Shepard who is always looking for a new job. Not only were the dogs stories hysterically funny but some were touching as well. I loved stories of Orson talking about having to be a Vegan, or Tinkerbell discussing here life as a purse dog. The ones that touched me the most were the stories of the dogs who were rescues (all of my dogs have been) or Sophie talking about getting older and how she knows her owners are thinking about putting her down. I always wondered with my Doxie who I loved more than life itself knew how sick he was when we went to put him down. This was a hysterically funny book written by Hy Conrad who was originally a writer for Monk and Jeff Johnson an advertiser and board member of the Florida Keys SPCA. For any dog lover this was a great funny book about what our dogs think about us and how much smarter they are than we often give them credit for. I would give this five stars....truly one of the best comedy books I have read in a long time.
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I can't believe it has been a month since I posted. I have been so crazy at school and at home I often don't even look at my computer when I get home. This would explain why my google reader is at 200 plus blogs to go and read! Although I have been keeping up with twitter when I can...I have missed blogging. I have been maintaining my weight loss as I have for almost an entire year now. I sometimes get upset about this, other times I am proud. I have really had a tough year. As the school year closes I always reflect back on the year. As I reflect I realize although I had a great year professionally with good students, successes in my teaching, and class advising....personally I have been put through the wringer.
Papa Hunt has major throat surgery in the fall, followed by a freak storm that left us without power for ten days and the decimation of all the food in our fridge. Then this led into a horrible stint of depression for Papa Hunt. Although it was his battle to fight (and thankfully he is much better now) depression affect the whole house. Then in the winter my Dad who watches my Wee one 2 was having heart problems and there was the stress of not knowing whether or not he might need heart surgery. Again thankfully he is doing ok and no need for immediate surgery. Then recently my husband's grandfather passed away, although he really did not have a relationship with his grandfather this causes a whole bag of issues upon his death. Add to that my first go around as being a class advisor and the stress of planning both a prom, graduation, and all the other senior events.
After typing this all out and trying desperate not to start crying thinking about it, I should be proud of myself. Proud that I haven't been hiding in my car huffing down cake and ho-hos. Proud that over the course of a horrible year I have maintained a 40 pound weight loss. No I haven't been going to the gym for the last month-frankly I haven't had the time or even the mental energy to think about. Yet, I have done ok considering. The last time Papa Hunt went through a period of depression I gained 15 pounds so hell I will take a maintenance.
I am looking forward-In three days my class will graduate and I will have 8 weeks of blissful time to recharge. I have big plans. The involved the gym, good books, my cute kids, and perhaps two graduate classes. I can't wait to have the time to meal plan, to work out, or hell sit around and really enjoy being a mom. So since I enjoy some good goal setting...here it is for the summer
Summer Goals
Books-Read Ten books this summer
Graduate School-Complete two courses
Budget-Try and establish a budget and pay down some debt (I am constantly stressed about money)
Gym-I want to plan to hit the gym or do a 45min home workout five days a week
Outside-I want to stop being the mom that hates to be sweaty I want to get outside 5 days a week with the kids. I find we spend a lot of time inside in the summer but only bc I hate the heat....not because my kids do
Trips-I want to take a few trips with my kids, the Bronx Zoo, a few aquariums, and to visit some family!
Happy almost summer to me!
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