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| Shirt: prAna, Ivana Top |
Then the craziness of teaching happens. I teach 5 periods out of an 8 period day (which is full time). I usually walk around the entire class, asking questions, interacting with the kids, trouble shooting and overall making sure that I touch base with each of the 180 students I teach each day. Often I am moving around all day being so busy that I just do not even realize how fast time flew and then second plan period hits, it is my lunch hour and time to get to work.
Once I am done teaching for the day, I spend my final plan period, tearing down labs, grading assignments from that day, responding to emails again, helping students that come in and if I am lucky, I plan a little more. The day flies by and I am often left with a pile of things that I did not get accomplished. Often this happens because something pulls me away from what I am currently doing. Sometimes it is that one of my ELL students needs more support so I head up to their classroom and help them. Other times, I am pulled into a meeting. There is always time when technology fails or a lesson went off the track and I need to regroup and figure out a better way to approach the topic the next day. I can also have a high schooler that just needs a sounding board so I become a listening ear. Each day is different, each day is a little chaotic with a whole lot of organization mixed in, but each day is a blessing.
After I am done teaching, I pack up, drive to grab the kids, head home and set up dinner. While dinner is cooking, the kids and I are at the table working on homework. For them it is usually reading and math, for me it is almost always planning, however, sometimes it is emailing or calling parents, or grading or creating a handout. It is always a busy time. Once homework time is done, we eat dinner, clean up and start our bedtime routine. Occasionally, we get a little TV time in, but often that does not happen.
I am not going to lie, by the time the end of the day happens, I am always looking for a way to take a moment and breathe. This usually includes fresh air, a snack and swinging on my porch hammock. It is so important for me to take time for myself and make sure that I re-center and mentally prep myself for the upcoming minutes, days and weeks. I am all about self care and self confidence and I know that is a big reason that I am able to continue to come into work each day with a positive and excited attitude.
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| Long Sleeve Shirt: prAna, Salinda Top |
I make sure to dress up at work each day and I take pride in making sure that I am wearing nice clothes. Shopping is my R&R and something that I really enjoy. Shopping of any kind is enjoyable for me. I love to find the best deals, and quality products that are sustainable. One of my favorite brands to purchase clothing from is prAna and that is what I am sporting in the photos above. Super comfortable, organic cotton, made using sustainable materials and great for work or play! You can learn more about prAna here. I also have a discount code for 15% off your prAna purchase for the next month! Just enter the code “MHMLF15” at checkout!
Teaching is hard, and exhausting and often we are overworked. Our days are fast and furious and we area always looking for ways to take care of ourselves after pouring our souls into our students. I am so lucky that I have supportive colleagues, great kids and a husband and family who are willing to drop everything to help me or give me a break. The above is only a glimpse of a second into each day. So much more happens, so many more stories come from my interactions with my students, my own kids and the day to day of life. The balance between my work life, parenting and blogging is one that is carefully nurtured and taking time for myself is a key point of maintaining that balance.
