Hello. My name is Meghan Loyd and I am a teacher. I went back to school this week. I am tired. I fell asleep on the couch at 7:30 on Thursday night. I tried to pack a semi-healthy lunch and it ended up being small serving of a casserole from three dinners before, two carrot sticks and four grapes.
Look! Here I am at the beginning of the first day of school (yes, I'm aware that my chalkboard sign says "Happy Hour;" I'm awesome and professional).
And here I am at the end of the day....
I'm only two days into this school year and I already need two weeks of sleep, four back rubs and mimosas on the patio at noon.
This time of the year has always me excited, and I keep saying that every year I will change my ways. My classroom will finally be ready before the 11th hour. I will drink more water instead of coffee. I will eat a healthy breakfast before I go to school. I will be prepared. Was my classroom ready before the 11th hour? No, I had to hide three boxes and I still have stuff to hang up. Did I drink more water instead of coffee? Yes and no. I had three cups of coffee before I walked out the door and then one more at school. I also had two giant containers of water during the school day that resulted in me having to pee every 30 minutes, but when you teach that isn't an option. Did I eat a healthy breakfast? No, I had a chocolate chip cookie.
And what do you think I'm doing on such a lovely Saturday as this? I'm writing lesson plans -- all while still trying to remember my name and where I am.
I'm tired -- ain't no tired like teacher tired, but my tired is worth it. My tired means something. For me, my tired represents my love, dedication and passion for my profession, my students, my colleagues and for my subject area. Guess what? I would not change this feeling for anything else in the world. I love what I do too much. Teaching is my calling. Teaching is my passion. I might be a hot mess of a teacher sometimes, but I'm really good at being a hot mess and making a difference.
So yes, I'm tired and yes, I will be tired for some time. But all my fellow educators know that by our fourth week into this school year, we will be back in the habit. We won't be as tired -- OK we will still be tired, but we can manage it a bit more. We will work our little tails off until October and then experience exhaustion from first nine weeks before grade reporting ensues. Then we will have winter finals exhaustion. Then comes spring break, then state testing and finally, the end of the year exhaustion. However, we will do it with smiles on our faces and love in our hearts because we are professionals! Plus, we know that there is a "happy hour" at the end of the week. Teachers welcome back to school! You do your thing and be awesome, and don't forget to take a nap...or 23 naps.
