Sunday, March 29, 2009

The More You Say Goodbye I say Hello.

It's back to work tomorrow. Our two weeks of vacation come to a close when the alarm wakes us at 5:40 tomorrow morning. Goodbye sleeping in. Goodbye Jamaican tan skin and No Problem, Mon attitude. Goodbye mid-day Trivial Persuit games. Goodbye Twilight series. I'll miss you, Edward Cullen. Goodbye obsessive searching for a puppy. Goodbye calm, flexible, relaxed mom who laughs more than she grumbles. Goodbye.

Hello 37 biographies that need to be graded. Hello dear, enthusiastic 5th graders who want to share all of their adventures. Hello Three Cups of Tea - Young Reader's Edition. Hello electric pencil sharpener interrupting me - how I've missed you! Hello new job addition as a lacrosse coach after school every day. Hello making lunches at 6:00 am. Hello parents who need help understanding that their child's behavior, while markedly different from that of a 9 or 10 year old, is really normal for an 11 year old. Hello fellow teachers, most of whom I respect and love, some of whom should have retired long ago. Hello too much coffee and not enough water. Hello.

Would I trade it? Probably not, but I sure do love my time away. When things are finite they are crystalized and oh so sweet.

10 comments:

DKC said...

I am counting down the days until my vaca. I wish I had a job I would look forward to coming back to a bit more then I think I will.

DKC said...

In retrospect, that was quite a sentence.

As Cape Cod Turns said...

Welcome back, hope your morning was smooth!
Sounds like you had a great vacation. Let's see the Jamaica pictures, so we can live vicariously through you!

Kari said...

The beauty of time away...

I heard Greg Mortenson speak. You are going to love Three Cups of Tea, if this is the first time you are reading it with your kids. Or even if it's not, actually.

Leslie said...

Welcome back. Hope the kids are easing you into today with kindness and hugs. My memory of fifth grade is that second semester is the beginning of "the end" for girls. It's when mine went from girls to pseudo-teen-monsters. NOW I know they were just a little monster-ish, but it freaked me out when both of them did it.

Lilly said...

Glad you had a great time. It will recharge your batteries for the term ahead.

Vodka Mom said...

hello rabbit who poops all over the room; hello staff meetings that are more painful that a root canal; hello art teacher who should have retired TEN years ago; hello children who still have "accidents."

that was a great post!!!

bernthis said...

I always tell myself, I would not appreciate the time off if I had it all the time. I also tell myself, if I was too rich I would end up being bored but somehow I have a tough time believing that one

anymommy said...

You and Vodka Mom are cracking me up. Hey, she's got a pooping rabbit, but you've got older kids to shepherd with bigger problems, so I'll call it even.

I don't work outside the home, am 26 weeks pregnant and STILL hello too much caffeine, not enough water.

Unknown said...

My vacation isn't until the 15th and I am counting down. I always look forward to it but I don't think that I would ever want another job. I'm ready to say goodbye to the broken girl's bathroom that is still not working after two weeks. Goodbye to writing prompts that still need to be graded. Goodbye to students who NEVER come to school with a pencil. I'll see you soon. Hope you had a smooth return.