tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.comments2024-02-27T05:33:37.346-08:00He's the Weird TeacherThe Weird Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865409578314612808noreply@blogger.comBlogger378125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-46337364446528684352021-07-18T22:21:13.178-07:002021-07-18T22:21:13.178-07:00Dude. This sucks. Stay your course. Trust it.Dude. This sucks. Stay your course. Trust it.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11179540390799771356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-70727975290154337072021-07-13T20:14:06.630-07:002021-07-13T20:14:06.630-07:00Reading your post thinking how similar our lives a...Reading your post thinking how similar our lives are. I share your story. I share your worry. Your focus on family. The need to protect your child who is at higher risk. The sick time that was banked up but it's now depleted. The unknowns about next year. The frustration building up: "IT'S NOT OVER!"<br /><br />I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. It's helpful to know that there are others in this same boat and that I haven't gone overboard. Yet.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14594064935179920830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-62479944099970877622021-07-13T09:26:30.220-07:002021-07-13T09:26:30.220-07:00Thank you. Perfectly put. Thank you. Perfectly put. Arcadia Conradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17648883834627155815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-71384796764574800372021-07-13T07:59:13.897-07:002021-07-13T07:59:13.897-07:00I'm as sure as someone can be who isn't yo...I'm as sure as someone can be who isn't you that you are 100% *right* about your feelings. Part of that is that they're feelings and, hey, feelings in and of themselves are never right or wrong. But also, I agree with you on all of your concerns.<br /><br />I'm lucky to be in a school that was super-cautious and that also offered genuinely useful PD over the summer of 2020. Plus, we're a middle/high school that was able to offer kids a vaccination clinic and that is requiring vaccination next year. As I say, I'm lucky. And I wish it wasn't luck (and, let's face it, privilege); I wish every teacher and every student and their family had had a similar experience. But that's not the reality. And even as a "lucky"/privileged one, that fact angers me.<br /><br />So I'm as certain as I can ever be that I would feel the same way in your position and I would be taking the same actions, and even in my position I share your anger that pretending things are going to be okay seems to be the dominant approach. If teaching weren't a feminized profession and if women and children weren't so frequently treated/thought of as subordinate to adult men (non-binary people too when people bother to think about us at all), things might be different. But here we are.Bill Iveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10483279159281741367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-54091772764234066332021-07-13T06:13:37.972-07:002021-07-13T06:13:37.972-07:00Teachers are supposed to be suckers. That's th...Teachers are supposed to be suckers. That's the expectation society has of us. We are supposed to put ourselves in danger, break up fights, buy school supplies for kids, be available for extra help on our time and never question an idiot parent or administrator. I had my knee replaced in April and surfed my sick bank time into June. Guilty? Not a chance. Take care of yourself and your family. Since our government refuses to lift a finger for anyone but billionaires it's up to us to make the system workable. Solidarity. Take no chances. BigSeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02463981956573456873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-61065642783042240762021-07-13T06:09:02.932-07:002021-07-13T06:09:02.932-07:00Thank you for writing this. Given your situation, ...Thank you for writing this. Given your situation, I would be exactly where you are. I keep trying to advocate in my state, but it's a ship with a crew fighting each other.Susan Baumgartnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16650573099588264143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-69452784473058973912021-07-13T05:21:44.759-07:002021-07-13T05:21:44.759-07:00I'm not sure. I'm not sure about any of it...I'm not sure. I'm not sure about any of it. Since March of 2019, that's what's been the constant - the not knowing. I'm sorry my comment won't be helpful, but I wanted you to know you're not alone is so very many of your thoughts and your questions.Joy Kirrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08883167887036480979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-89523668205008016402020-09-27T00:51:06.859-07:002020-09-27T00:51:06.859-07:00I love this. In every way. Every word. We will get...I love this. In every way. Every word. We will get through this.valeenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04041715381740183594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-56019059551147536142020-09-26T09:10:14.577-07:002020-09-26T09:10:14.577-07:0037 years in. I am GOOD at this. I got a bag of t...37 years in. I am GOOD at this. I got a bag of tricks for any situation. I teach middle school. So there's that. I have loved my job for 37 years. Except now, when my bag of tricks is entirely empty, when my back up strategy is end the zoom meeting and pretend the internet died (OK, I've not really wanted to do that, but it IS a strategy) Faith is all that is going to make this possible. Thank you. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02635364343545200617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-60549500412723685702020-09-26T05:18:08.288-07:002020-09-26T05:18:08.288-07:00I'm 5wks in teaching 4th virtually and still c...I'm 5wks in teaching 4th virtually and still clinging to that faith. Sometimes I feel like the guy leading the marathon and other times I feel like the pity bus is about to pick me up. Either way...one more step. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09310039250761659490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-50348579461475009672020-09-22T14:42:00.851-07:002020-09-22T14:42:00.851-07:00Yep, this is pretty much it. But you're right ...Yep, this is pretty much it. But you're right - you are the best teacher they could have and you all will get better at it and hit your groove at some point. Just... a little later than in the classroom.Laura Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03621609965449160239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-88597256209937237452020-09-22T09:11:46.804-07:002020-09-22T09:11:46.804-07:00This is the most real thing I've read in quite...This is the most real thing I've read in quite some time. Love the stubbornness of it, because... well, what else are we gonna do in a world gone $#(%&ing made? <br /><br />Nice. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07078071355217310791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-6460101416971761892020-09-08T13:38:18.318-07:002020-09-08T13:38:18.318-07:00Somewhere in all this, I started hearing Buzz Ligh...Somewhere in all this, I started hearing Buzz Lightyear and the phrase "falling with style". It probably won't ever be flying - not like this - but maybe it can get us... somewhere? <br /><br />Great post. Nobody keeps it quite so real. @bluecerealeduchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06522475396691986591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-20460758911452592292020-02-02T14:54:35.852-08:002020-02-02T14:54:35.852-08:00Truth. 28 years teaching for me -- it’s a wonderfu...Truth. 28 years teaching for me -- it’s a wonderful gig, but it can be tough. It’s all of the planning, dreaming, relationship-building, working, and re-working that makes it happen. Those tough years are so frustrating because all of the effort remains the same, but for some reason(s), the magic tends to elude us. Keep going, though, because I’ll bet that OoTYs in your classroom will still probably be one of the most memorable school years in your lucky students’ lives. ❤️Nancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506868028335191771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-88727362505088822462020-02-01T16:19:43.663-08:002020-02-01T16:19:43.663-08:00Thank you for these words of reality and truth. Th...Thank you for these words of reality and truth. The school years of being off balance are one of the hardest parts of teaching. (Another one is remembering that my love for all students can't rescue all of them.) As someone a few years older than you, please know that OoTY tends to be cyclical. It will pass, like kidney stones, and another one will form, again like kidney stones. But there will always be the truly magical moments when everything is in synch. Remember those times.Mrs. W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16182266530927904141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-66456892054950966472019-12-19T09:34:25.975-08:002019-12-19T09:34:25.975-08:00Mom= Kathy Brabander 🤪Mom= Kathy Brabander 🤪Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00763283806137663702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-85470448562681357652019-12-19T09:31:54.976-08:002019-12-19T09:31:54.976-08:00I’m happy that you are seeking help. I waited till...I’m happy that you are seeking help. I waited till I was 65, I am sad that I waited but I am hopeful that I can live peacefully with the time I have left on this planet. I am learning to embrace my anxieties- not push them away. I have made meditation a daily practice. I have learned what it means to be mindful and I have learned to slow down- literally- be present. It is very powerful. One day I was stuck on the freeway- nothing I could do about it so I thought about how I could be mindful at that moment. I noticed a billboard that I hadn’t seen before. Instead of being frustrated I used the short time that I was stuck there to notice what is around me.I know that sounds silly but I have lived my life always thinking that there will always be a tomorrow. Now I tell people to live as if there is no tomorrow. I would encourage you to make counseling an important part of the rest of your life. I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Don’t forget to breath! Peace❤️Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00763283806137663702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-86744887027017161642019-12-19T07:57:05.566-08:002019-12-19T07:57:05.566-08:007:30 pm7:30 pmLitLoverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05448686568145814410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-42547777152401150372019-12-19T07:56:43.019-08:002019-12-19T07:56:43.019-08:00You are telling my story, too. The small amount of...You are telling my story, too. The small amount of daylight hours adds another dimension to the struggle. Another teacher just tweeted about going to bed at 7:30 am. My anxiety spiked with a general class that was really a special education and special needs class that was outside of my capabilities. Otherwise, I am on top of my game and flourish teaching honors and AP. Good that you are talking and trying meds. LitLoverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05448686568145814410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-12551086913055325272019-12-19T04:37:01.644-08:002019-12-19T04:37:01.644-08:00Thank you so much for sharing this. I've been...Thank you so much for sharing this. I've been struggling with anxiety issues lately and I've finally started the process to make an appointment with a talk therapist. Diana Rendinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12256049726170242620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-53408641174400185042019-12-18T16:54:53.045-08:002019-12-18T16:54:53.045-08:00Wow. You're right that this is a side of you t...Wow. You're right that this is a side of you that I would not have predicted. Thanks for sharing your story - clearly you will help so many readers who need to know they are not alone in their feelings and that there is help. Have you read John Green's book "Turtles All The Way Down"? The main character suffers from OCD and anxiety, and he wrote her based on his own experiences. I learned so much from his book, and it is helping me understand others (you obviously don't need to read it to understand anxiety, but you or others in your life might like it). Again, thanks for sharing, and I hope you find success soon through therapy or meds.Laura Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03621609965449160239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-61840703772260550872019-12-18T16:52:49.036-08:002019-12-18T16:52:49.036-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Laura Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03621609965449160239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-80334651093275161632019-12-17T19:37:05.147-08:002019-12-17T19:37:05.147-08:00I so admire the courage you have to say all of thi...I so admire the courage you have to say all of this out loud. I am dealing with anxiety too right now to the point where aim only at work 1/3 of the time. The effort to put that face on for 1/2 a day is exhausting. I come home and generally sleep all afternoon. I have this weird focus thing where I can’t separate what I should be listening to from the other ambient noises. Do you ever feel anxiety in your ears?Alanna King @banana29https://www.blogger.com/profile/01832761151652455096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-43432684871528458072019-12-17T11:56:18.106-08:002019-12-17T11:56:18.106-08:00Doug. Thanks so much for sharing. On our last visi...Doug. Thanks so much for sharing. On our last visit with you I mentioned to you that you seemed off. Your health is important and I am glad that you are doing something about it. I love you son. If you ever need to talk I’ll be there. Sommelier Sayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03875894873585269044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685637550786185567.post-19251692434248149322019-12-17T06:25:02.571-08:002019-12-17T06:25:02.571-08:00Doug, thank you. More of this sounds familiar than...Doug, thank you. More of this sounds familiar than I would actually like to admit. Especially about airplanes or being stuck in traffic. These ring absolutely true and I know those feelings intimately. I'm sure there are other areas that I'm less eager to investigate but trying some sunlight treatment like you've done here might do me a miraculous amount of good. <br />As in so many other areas, I'm good at being supportive of others, often less capable in managing my own internal mess. You've given me a lot to think about. Maybe a little boost of courage to dig a little deeper, seek out some specific help. What i want to say with all this is that I see you, I see myself and I am so grateful I read this post today. sspelichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08760147186496248045noreply@blogger.com