Raise your hand if....you've ever had to get a sub during the first full week of school!
Yep, it happened to me.... Day 8 of school and I wake up at 2:00am with chills and a fever. "This CANNOT be happening," I immediately think! Then it hits me, Susie-Q in my class, went home early with a sore throat the day before, right after she gave me a big hug. "So this is it. I have no choice but to text my principal," (really, at 2:00am, because she is seriously that cool And because I know she won't see it until she wakes up) and submit a substitute request. After I realize I have a high fever, sore throat, and will not be going to work the next day, I ALSO realize I have NO emergency sub plans yet. I mean, it IS only DAY 8 and I have had "bigger fish to fry" than to get emergency sub plans. Too achy and tired to leave my bed, I type an entire days worth of plans on my cell phone, email it to myself and pledge to email it to my grade-team at 7:00 to have them print for the sub.
Fast forward to prompt care...a place I remember oh so well my second year in teaching! I think I was on antibiotics every single month from the germ exposure and the fact that I had no clue that I was allergic to SO many things. So, prompt care on a school day is an old familiar memory. I got the report that I definitely had strep. YAY. I hope this isn't a preface to this school year.
Strep is so much worse as an adult! I feel like I used to bounce back from strep SO much quicker as a child. But strep as an adult usually means a fever for 24 hours straight! This time was no exception. Missing school on the Friday of a first full week back was less than ideal, it also was a blessing in disguise. I missed and worried about my kiddos all day, don't get me wrong! Even so, I spent Friday resting all day. Saturday was also a very lazy pajama day. Once I finally broke my fever I was able to leisurely prepare some amazing items for Parent Orientation next week (post to come soon)! After that, I watched a movie with my husband...on the couch...and we did not cut out lamination, grade papers, label zip-loc baggies, etc! We just enjoyed getting to watch a movie and not do ANY school work! What a notion! Then Sunday, I was feeling myself again, just with very low energy. So, I slept in, again. And by "I slept in," I mean 1:00. Sorry, not sorry. I slept in until 1:00 and I'm NOT ashamed! Who knows when I'll ever get to do that again! This time of year is typically EXHAUSTING for me and I never find a way to allow myself to slow down. Unfortunately, strep throat caused me to slow down unwillingly. However, I was able to find the peace of resting and taking time for myself. I need to do that more often!
I cannot wait to see what this week brings! I'm finally seeing the product of teaching routines and procedures explicitly...and that is exciting! Who doesn't love a classroom that has rock-solid routines and procedures?! Maybe I'll pick another night this week to enjoy a couch date sans lamination or grading papers. You teacher wives (and mommies) out there, I dare you to do the same! Your husband (and children) will be shocked...and so grateful!
