I Just Can't Stay Away

Why on earth would a retired school teacher go on a field trip with a bunch of sixth graders? It should be noted that I did not ride on a bus filled with middle schoolers to get there. I'm crazy, but not THAT crazy. My reasons for going were very selfish, I readily admit. See this precious face in the photo? Not mine; the little boy's. That's ONE reason I went. Mr. Seth brings joy to everyone he sees.

Another reason? This boy right here. Calvin and I have a special relationship, too. It's been months since we've seen each other, and the first thing he asked me was, "How's Elvis?"  

Calvin loved watching our bright blue Vietnamese Betta fish swim around in his bowl. I didn't want to tell him Elvis had died this summer, so I just told him I didn't bring Elvis; Elvis wasn't there. Calvin has an inquisitive mind, and asks in-depth questions about concepts like the resurrection. I decided to let that question go for today.  

Actually, that day there were more than 35 reasons I wanted to go on the sixth grade field trip. My old fifth graders were this year's sixth graders. My young friends were going to be at the Mount Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, and I wanted to see them!  

The Festival was well underway when I got there. I slipped into a seat at the back of the spacious tent. A few of the kids noticed me, and turned around with  big smiles and small waves. They had already changed so much since they were mine. Some of the girls were wearing a little makeup, and the boys looked taller already. I couldn't stop smiling.  

I hadn't been in my seat long when I felt a presence to my right. I could sense that someone was staring at me, and I slowly turned my head and looked up. There was Seth, beaming with his big open-mouth grin. We all scooted over to make room for him. I whispered to him how happy I was to see him. He smiled. I asked him if his mom were there. "No. Bailey (his sister). Mom's on vacation." More grinning. I let my hand slide from his shoulder, and gently rubbed his back. He seemed content to just sit there. After awhile, he returned to his seat by his sister. Before I knew it, the storytelling was over.

Children flooded to the back of the tent.  A line formed so I could hug them one by one. Brooklyn wasn't wearing glasses...how grown up she looked. Talmage looked even more mature. How was that even possible? Jett and Nash stood with their friend behind the chairs, grinning at me from where they stood. There was Lilly, Adia...where was Michayla?  I noticed another of my boys was missing. It's so weird that when one or two are gone, even with such a large group, their absence is felt.  

We were a family last year. I was the lucky mom with 35 kids, and they were the lucky brothers and sisters; they had each other. No one dared pick on any of my kids. Several made comments during our morning meetings that this was the first year they didn't feel like anyone was bullying anyone else. My class was a force to be reckoned with...a force for good.  

There aren't pictures of all of my kids from this day. The festival had concluded and it was time to load the buses. Many disappeared into the masses walking in droves to the parking lot. The few pictures I have are treasures.  I only wish I had been able to catch each one for a quick pose.

There are so many stories I want to tell about these compassionate, wonderful people. It has been a pleasure contacting their parents during the last few days, making sure they were okay with my using their children's names and pictures. Some children will remain nameless in my blog due to circumstances beyond my control. But they will never be forgotten. I have their stories forever recorded in my heart.

If you enjoyed this piece, you might also like to check out this story:  "YOU'RE GOING TO MISS THIS, THEY SAID".  (Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. I love to share my stories, especially about "my kids," my biological ones, and my school ones.)

Dodging the Bullet

"Today is a wonderful day
For I am going away.
Not to the circus, not to the pool.
Can't you guess? I'm going to school!"

That little verse is followed by a bunch of "tra-la-la-la-las" that I will spare you of reading. I GET to go to school today.  I don't have to go; I am not required to go.  It is my PRIVILEGE to go!  And I am so excited!

I woke up at 4:30.  By 4:45 I was bounding out of bed.  I needed to get ready!  Wait, I'm a retired teacher.  I don't HAVE to go anywhere.  But that's the point.  Today, I GET to go.  And I am so happy.

My friend invited me to help in her classroom today.  I will check in at the office, wear my VISITOR badge, soak in the fifth grade vibe, have fun, and then check out of the office.  I will not go home and worry about lesson plans this weekend, or grading papers, or pressure from parents.  Today it is an honor to be a volunteer.  I feel nearly giddy!!!

My principal will probably think, "I knew she shouldn't have retired.  She wasn't ready.  Look at her; she's already back."  Oh, but I was ready.  My energy levels were waning. I found myself fumbling with words...with WORDS!  Word geeks don't do that!  Remembering over 100 children's names used to be a cinch.  Not any more.  It took me so long to accomplish the same things I used to do quickly.  I could feel the changes coming, and this old dog just didn't feel like learning all of the new tricks the state department of education would be requiring.

Winston Churchill said, "Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result."  I am feeling the exhilaration of having dodged a bullet.  

Now I can go to school when I feel like it.  No one will be observing or evaluating my performance.  No parents will call me late tonight with concerns about a child.  I don't have to learn the newest ways to teach, which are just the older ways to teach, revived again.  I don't have to learn the new curriculum. No district meetings will be required of me...not faculty meetings nor team meetings.  *sigh*

Let's get this day started!!!

The Queen of Fifth Grade Graces Her Former
Kingdom Once Again.  (HAH!)

Over the Rainbow

Did you see that rainbow last night?  We've had afternoon thunderstorms here in the canyon, and I have enjoyed everything about them...the rumblings, the lightning strikes, and of course, the rainbows.  The rainbow feels symbolic to me this morning.  I've finally reached the end of my rainbow and found my little pot of gold: I finally get to live life as a stay-at home mom!!!

After thirty years of working as a teacher, this will be my first day as a stay-at home mom now that I'm retired.  Oh, how envious I used to be of the "full-time" moms.  Wait a minute. Did I just imply people who work are "off-duty" when their job begins?  Notice I said "how envious I USED TO BE."

It didn't take many summers off from teaching to realize that stay-at homes don't have it much better than work-aways.  I didn't accomplish any more by being home instead of at work during June and July and a little of August. If anything, I accomplished less, because I didn't have a schedule or routine.  For a couple of months, why bother?  Ha ha.  That's just how I roll.

This week, I finally know what it's like to be retired.  I ran into a friend yesterday who retired with me.  Our eyes lit up with recognition and we ran in for a hug.  "Isn't it GREAT?" she asked me.  I had to admit that yes, yes, it was.  While we were shopping at Walmart, our school friends were frantically doing all of the last minute preparations to be ready for today.  While I was taking my son back-to-school shopping, my old fifth grade team was in a meeting.  While I was in a relaxed state of mind at the shooting range, taking pictures of my husband, son, and the gorgeous scenery, teachers everywhere were adding things to be done to their lists as fast as they were checking things off.

So this morning, I'm making my boy chocolate chip pancakes for his first day of tenth grade.  "Do they have to be healthy or can they just be yummy?" he asked.  He's the baby.  I admit to spoiling him.  I will be making fluffy pancakes from a mix...not ones with hidden veggies and extra fiber and whole grains made into flour.  I will drive him down the canyon and drop him off at the high school. Then I will return home to accomplish oh, so many things.  

Yeah, right.  I'm hoping to fold a load of towels and tidy up a few things.  No sense in going after this stay-at home mom gig with a vengeance. I'll start slow and ease into things.  Then by 2:30, I'll meander back toward the high school to take him home.  We'll run some errands and talk about his day.  After we have dinner and watch a little TV, he'll have homework to do, I'm sure.  I think I will like this lifestyle very much.

Happy First Day of School, friends!  So sorry about the full moon last night.  For once, it didn't send chills up my spine.  I'm starting to think less like a teacher and more like a mom all the time.  ;-)

"Breakfast:  the most important meal of the day."
Happy First Day of School, Bridge!!!

These Are a Few of My Un-favorite Things

Picture Julie Andrews in a white nightgown surrounded by children under a big fluffy quilt.  Now picture me, dressed in my yoga pants beside my Boston Terrier on the couch.  Imagine Julie Andrews singing "My Favorite Things."  Now imagine my singing... on second thought, don't. I have a terrible voice. 

There are many things that I will definitely miss now that I have retired from teaching, but to console myself, I made a list of some of the things I will NOT miss as my  teacher friends begin another hectic new school year.  Some are obvious, like long, dull meetings, and some are specific to me, like accidents involving cars and falling on ice.  

My Least Fav'rite Things

Duty before school, at recess, and lunch;

Teaching the infamous "class from hell" bunch;

Standardized testing in fall-winter-spring;

These are a few of my least fav'rite things.

Checking the papers and recording the test scores;

Making the kids clean the playground and school floors;

Falling on ice with a thud, that sure stings; 

These are a few of my least fav'rite things. 

Snowflakes on windshields, and deer in the headlights;

Swerving in canyons, and collisions; oh, that bites!

Big dents in bumpers, those deer leave some dings,

These are a few of my least fav'rite things.

After school ends,

When the bell rings,

When I'm feeling sad,

I simply remember my unfav'rite things,

To retire won't be so bad.

 The hours it takes to set up a classroom!

Lesson plans

Lugging my school bag and a gallon of water to school every day.

Substitute teacher plans...and clearing my desk so someone else can actually find everything she needs to survive.

Checking papers and recording scores.  Bleah.

The Halloween Parade.  I have a feeling this picture will haunt me the rest of my life.  I hope it does not prophesy of things to come.

Getting ready for winter.  Those dang ceiling vents are drafty!

Driving through the canyon on snowy days.  In my 30 years of teaching in Utah, we only missed school for snow ONCE.  
We go whether it's a skiff or a blizzard.

I managed to hit TWO deer in my first two years of living
up the canyon.  My poor Highlander.

Testing.  And especially questions like this that distract

kids.  "Hey, look at this, Mrs. J!  I love this TV show."  

The Patriotic Program.  Sorry, after 14 years, tradition or not,

that show was tedious and monotonous for me.  Those songs

are stuck in my head for life.

The annual softball game on the last day of school.

I am the world's WORST softball player.  I am so thankful

that the pitchers are able to hit the bat with the ball or I 

would never, ever make it on base, let alone, back to home!

These are some of my least favorite things...and I had to remind myself of  them when I realized it was time for me to end my career.  It's pretty sweet to have been able to do something I loved for so long, and get paid for it, too!  What about the things I love?  My favorite things?  Wait for it...wait for it... To be continued...in the next post!