Thursday, December 27, 2012

"Seriously! You're working during your break?"

This was the question my husband asked me this morning as I opened up my laptop and started working on January lesson plans.  This year we had 13 days off for Winter Break and this is the first time since we moved to South Carolina that he had the entire break off with me. We were giddy like schoolchildren when we discovered by him taking leave for 5 days over the break we would have the entire time to hang out as a family and enjoy the holidays with our 12 year old son. The first few weeks of break we rushed around shopping and getting ready for Christmas. Then Christmas Eve and Christmas Day flew by and yesterday we decided not to even get out of our pajamas.

This morning, however, after I enjoyed a cup of coffee with him and the Today show, I felt that itch to get some work done. I brought home my laptop and my teacher bag was full of papers to grade. I couldn't waste another minute. So I got up from the couch, grabbed my laptop and returned to the couch an started searching for ideas on how to teach author's craft.

Apparently, I was not the only one thinking this way, because as I opened my school email, I found a note from of the other teachers on my grade level, stating how much it sucked that here we were 7 days into our break and she was working on school stuff. A few replies from others on our team echoed the same sentiment. I chimed in with a comment I am sure is representative of how many of us feel...in very few other  professions, do you have to work on our vacation to prepare for your  return to work.

I feel the same way about taking a sick day (which I usually only do if my son is sick and my husband is working).  It is so much work to prepare to be out, that it is almost not worth it.

Now this might sound like whining, and maybe it is, but I just wondered what the spouses/partners of other teachers out there think when they see them having to work on their break to prepare for the return to school.

TIME TO CHIME......

8 comments:

  1. My husband thinks I am a nut job! I wake up early each morning before the rest of my household awakes so I can get some work done. You are not alone sister! I am hosting a giveaway right now and would love for you to stop by and check it out. Happy New Year!
    -Jaime
    Bright Concepts 4 Teachers

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    1. Jaime- Thanks for dropping by my blog. I just checked out yours and entered your giveaway. I love your TpT stuff....may need to do a little shopping this weekend!!! Happy New Year!!

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  2. My husband doesn't "get it". He can't understand how I always have work to do (nightly, weekends, breaks, etc.). Today I told him that tonight once the kids are in bed I HAVE to work on school stuff. I explained that by doing this I would have less to work on when I went back to work. Right now he doesn't mind because he has enjoyed his leave by playing Xbox Live with his oldest son in KY. One day they will realize we don't have a "9-5 job", we can only hope right ?

    I am your newest follower, please stop by and check out my blog :)

    Jess

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    1. Hey Jess-
      Thanks for dropping by my blog and becoming my newest follower. The great thing about teachers is we all "get it" where non-teachers don't. My husband is a cop and I told him "Imagine is you had to go arrest people on your day off". His reply- "Trust me, sometimes I want to." Still not the same...hope you didn't stay up too late last night working on stuff. My plan was to get an early stat this morning..so far all I have done is drank coffee, checked out blogs, Facebook and Twitter and not much else. Haha!!
      I am headed over to your blog now....enjoy the rest of your break.
      Patti

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  3. When I first started teaching I was always looking for ideas, planning bulletin boards, AND being paid for a half day. My husband made the mistake of commenting that this must be a hobby. From that time on I've always reminded him my job was a hobby and he could pay all the bills! After 20+ years I still spend a lot of vacation time searching (and now) blogging.

    Happy New Year.
    Pat

    A Time to Share & Create


    MY WEBSITE

    Fabulous 4th Grade


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    1. Pat-
      Thanks for stopping by! I love your comment to your husband!! nd he should know by now it is more than a hobby (but he can keep paying the bills, lol). Happy New Year!
      Patti

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  4. My hubby doens't "get" it, but he understands it if that makes sense. He knows it makes me happy to plan and be ahead even of only for a day or two. It is a different type of profession for sure. I always laugh when people say that teachers get summers off because I know what we are all really doing!

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    1. Kelly-
      Thanks for stopping by my blog. I know what you mean..it infuriates me when people comment how easy teachers have it, having summers and holidays off....I had 18 days of PD last summer....on top of that factor in the days we spend setting our classrooms back up, etc...not much time off, plus your mind is always in plan mode...even during summer!! I challenge those people to spend on day in my classroom..they wouldn't cut it for an hour!!!

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