Being a Teacher is Hard

And there is no way around that.

I feel like I hear stories all the time that end with the teacher saving some student's life or being the mother figure in the kid's life or changing the world with her music.

Let me clarify:

Yes. That happens. It's possible it has even happened already in my classroom. But, at least right now, at least for me, that is not the norm.

The norm looks more like this:

I walk into my school at 7:03 AM and already have 4 girls waiting outside my door for rehearsal. Early morning, no water, middle school girl rehearsal. Voices are whining and screeching and complaining rehearsal. Eyes are heavy rehearsal. Spirits are weary from the early hour rehearsal.

We sing through all our audition pieces and it is no surprise that only 1 of now 6 students has practiced since last week. I struggle through the songs with them, teaching notes I've taught at least a dozen times.

7:50 hits as the bell rings to go to class. I frantically head to the copier to make copies. Even though I was there until 5:00 PM the day before, I forgot to make copies. Again.

Copies in hand, I return to my first hour chaos. And chaos is usually the most appropriate choice of words.

I struggle, laugh, cry, sing, yell, and talk my way through 6 hours of classes. Six different times I let myself get frustrated. Six times I listen as my choirs and classes aren't quite where I want them. Some days it is six different times I lose control.

7th Hour comes and I welcome the silence that is Planning Period... until I look at the massive to-do list on the never-ending sticky on my laptop. 

And the reality is - I never get it done.
I never finish everything on my to-do list.
I always forget one so very important item.
I always feel a little more behind each day.

There is always something else. There is always an extracurricular activity I have to attend. Or a concert for which I need to prep. Or a fundraiser I need to count.

And when it all boils down this chilly Fall Break - I am tired. 

I am tired of to-do lists. Tired of the feeling of inadequacy that haunts me. Tired of the forgotten things sneaking up on me, making my stomach hurt.

Yes. Being a teacher is hard. But, using one of the most valuable tools I gained from my Pathways training, it is only hard. It's not too hard (although many days it seems that way). It's just hard.

And I can do hard.

So Monday I will walk into my school at 7:03 to the weary faces of middle school girls forced to wake up before 7:00 AM. I will have an all-day rehearsal on Monday, a concert on Tuesday, a fundraising delivery on Wednesday, and an all-day audition process on Saturday. I will be tired. I will feel inadequate.

But I will rest in the fact that my identity is not in the things I do and don't do at school. I am a strong, beautiful, confident woman who can make my own decisions because that's how God made me.

I will rest in the I AM who made my "I am" part of His story.

Photo Scavenger Hunt*: October 2012

*Taken from Diva Girl Parties and Stuff

Looking for something fun to do with your family and friends?? For the next week, I'd like to invite you to participate in the first annual October Photo Scavenger Hunt!! The rules are simple and there are prizes involved.

Rules:
1. Have fun!! 
2. Compile a team (as few as 2, as many as 1,000).
3. Complete as many items as possible on the following Photo Scavenger Hunt list.
4. Make a Facebook album of all your photos, labeling each with the number from the list.
5. Comment on this post that you are participating, providing a link to your Facebook album.
6. There will be (really awesome) prizes for:

• Most pictures taken
• Most creative pictures
• Best photography

Albums will be judged next Friday, October 19, after 10:00 PM. Happy Hunting!!

Photo scavenger hunt list...

• 1. Take a picture of an unhappy child
  
• 2. Take a picture of a team member on a kiddie toy
  
• 3. Take a picture of a team member in six inch heels
  
• 4. Take a picture of a team members next to the tallest person you can find
  
• 5. Take a picture of an undressed mannequin
  
• 6. Take a picture of a made over team member
  
• 7. Take a picture of the most outrageous hat you can find
  
• 8. Take a picture of a team member in a leather jacket
  
• 9. Take a picture of an antique rocking chair
  
• 10 Take a picture of a leather couch
  
• 11. Take a picture of a gothic chandelier
  
• 12. Take a picture of a live animal with a team member
  
• 13. Take a picture of a team member with a security guard
  
• 14. Take a picture of a sentimental coffee mug
  
• 15. Take a picture of an unpopular logo
  
• 16. Take a picture of a team members twin (must be a stranger)
  
• 17. Take a picture of a pregnant woman
  
• 18. Take a picture of a team member wearing crazy sunglasses
  
• 19. Take a picture of a $75.00 tie
  
• 20. Take a picture of a trendy lantern
  
• 21. Take a picture of a man or woman that looks like a team members parent(s) or grandparent(s)
  
• 22. Take a picture of a job application
  
• 23. Take a picture of a business card
  
• 24. Take a picture of a team member using an iPad
  
• 25. Take a picture of a team member wearing a feather boa
  
• 26. Take a picture of a blue rose
  
• 27. Take a picture of a soccer ball
  
• 28. Take a picture of the entire team (except for the person taking the picture) against a blank wall
  
• 29. Take a picture of a dart board
  
• 30. Take a picture of a blue sequin pillow
  
• 31. Take a picture of an empty dressing room
  
• 32. Take a picture of an interesting painting
  
• 33. Take a picture of a team member planking/owling somewhere unusual
  
• 34. Take a picture of a team member with an angry store manager
  
• 35. Take a picture of a team member wearing a (Halloween) costume that is either too mature or too childish
  
• 36. Take picture of a team member with someone on another team
  
• 37. Take a picture of all of the team members sharing a fall drink
  
• 38. Take a picture of a stranger's eye
  
• 39. Take a picture of a stranger yawning
  
• 40. Take a picture of a snowman
  
• 41. Take a picture of something tacky
  
• 42. Take a picture of the mountains
  
• 43. Take a picture of a team member with food on their face
  
• 44. Take a picture of a team member slow dancing with a stranger
  
• 45. Take a picture of a board game none of the team members have ever played before
  
• 46. Take a picture of a grandfather clock
  
• 47. Take picture of a trophy
  
• 48. Take a picture of fake eyelashes
  
• 49. Take a picture of a yellow couch
  
• 50. Take a picture of a foreign food or product
  
• 51. Take a picture of a penny from 1990
  
• 52. Take a picture of a coffee bean
  
• 53. Take a picture of the most expensive perfume bottle's price tag
  
• 54. Take a picture of a team member chewing six pieces of gum
  
• 55. Take a picture of a team member wearing a jersey
• 56. Take a picture of a team member with someone who is at least 6 foot 5 (cannot be a team member)
  
• 57. Take a picture of a 20 dollar bill
  
• 58. Take a picture of a moon
  
• 59. Take a picture with an employee with the same name as a team member
  
• 60. Take a funny group photo