the truth about teaching

Today I came across an article which pretty much sums up how a lot of educators feel these days....http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/06/living/teachers-want-to-tell-parents/index.html

I could associate with so much of what was written in this article. I love kids, I really do- even the so called "difficult" ones because I can usually get past all their bravado and can get them to work for me. It takes patience, faith, and the building of trust.

I work primarily with special education students, many of which will never be able to live on their own so I "get" that these parents have had and will continue to have a tough road.  I don't envy them that, not only do they need to plan for their own retirement but have the worry of who will care for their child when their gone.   

I wish parents could just trust that most of us who teach aren't in it for the money- we truly care about our students

All that said- truth be told...If I didn't have one child getting married in less than a year and two more in college next year I too would be leaving in large part due to many of the things discussed in this article. Parents like the ones described bring on a kind of stress that eats away from you.

However, teaching & the connection I have with my students minus the "parent factor"....

is  AWESOME!

I'm BBBBAAAACCCCKKKK!

I am finally back after being away all summer. My summer was so unbelievably busy - you cannot even imagine.
Over the course of June, July & August I was only home 2 full weeks all summer. I traveled quite a bit. In June I flew to Atlanta for 8 days visiting my sister in law & her hubby. There were all kinds of issues traveling there & back, but the visit itself was wonderful! The girls flew down and joined us for 5 of the days and we took them along with us to visit Savannah, GA for 3 days and 2 nights.

We got home just before 4th of July weekend then we left and went to our cabin in the mountains for 5 days. The rest of July we traveled back to the cabin each weekend for 3-4 day weekends.

Then the last week of July I drove my 72 y/o mom to Maine to visit my aunt. (9 hrs. UGH) My uncle passed away and they had a memorial service the 30th. We came home on Monday Aug. 1st and then I had 4 days to prepare for Jenny's engagement party/pig roast. (we had 50+ ppl) All went well and after that I FINALLY had a week @ home.

Then I had to take Stef down to JMU and stayed 4 days.
Whew! It makes me tired just rehashing it all!!

Now I am back at work and on a schedule again... so hopefully I can be more regular with my posts!