Keeping sane as a teacher - anyone want to join me?

[lbnblbnb]

I teach in Secondary, I have a DD 13 and a DS 7. Supportive husband - irritating old sod in many ways but basically good. I have been struggling for the past couple of years, workload, responsibility, daydreams of doing a Thelma and Louise and running away... anyway, I have decided that despite all this I do love teaching and have to get better at managing/balancing. Not that I think there is a perfect way to do it, I think the way teaching is set up at the moment is ridiculous, but I want to try to keep myself sane in the middle of it all. If anyone would like to join me you are welcome.

FleurdeHeadLice - I don't think most people have a clue about what some children go through, even at such a young age. That is part of the problem isn't it - once you realise how much they need, it is hard to put yourself first. But you won't help them if you burn out.
I admire you teaching infants - at least in secondary you can stand back for a moment (a brief moment, but hey). It is relentless, and having to think on so many different levels at the same time.

So - what are your plans for the rest of half term to recharge your batteries/sharpen the saw?
I am going to:
get DS's birthday party sorted (will help me not to have to do it during term time)
meal plan ahead
get all the school stuff onto the family calendar so that we can coordinate
book a weekend away night away with DH to celebrate our wedding anniversary in a few weeks
get my photocopying sorted to put in on the first day back so that I am not scrabbling around for that
sort outfits for the first week
clear out my son's room - one step closer to getting a cleaner, although I know my DH will not like the idea.

catch up with friends, go out somewhere new, remind myself that life is not all bells, targets and lists. For me, giving my best means totally recharging and going into the wider world to regain perspective.

I am going to a friends tomorrow to put the world's to rights. Husbands off tomorrow so DD was originally coming with me but now she is staying staying with him. Because I am on a phased return I am doing something totally new and that is nothing to do with work other than getting there on Monday. Can do anything as not only has husband hidden work key fob but he has changed pass word on computer so can't go on it. I have started planning things for weekends so that should help. Done shopping today so will not have to do over the weekend.

Well, I went into school yesterday (year 11 revision day) and discovered that our PGCE student isn't coping and isn't ready to take on the classes she was supposed to so that is another headache.

We have 3 DC's between us - DD is at Uni, DSS is 12 (with us 3 w/ends out of 4 and half holidays) and DS is 8. DD going to Uni (she's in her 2nd year) was hard - she was always so willing to help around the house, keep an eye on her brothers, be up for a girly chat. And it has affected our financial situation so I can't have a massage/get nails done for a bit of a pick-me up, DH and I hardly go out etc.

But taking on board the message of the thread, I'm trying to be more positive! Have done shopping order (shopping delivery is the BEST) and got a couple of meals in the freezer for next week. Have sorted out DS's room and now have a huge pile of toys to bin/clean up and Ebay as appropriate. Will have a busy day today getting things organised and the boys can help (instead of playing endless Minecraft with the curtains drawn and grunting).

instead of playing endless Minecraft with the curtains drawn and grunting

so glad I am not the only one with two of those....

Yep, another DS here who would spend all day on Minecraft with the curtains shut...
I am having a clear up today as my parents are coming over this evening. I have corralled all my work stuff into one area - it seemed to have spread through two rooms downstairs.
I had to do some data analysis yesterday and had an email exchange with my LM. I managed to be assertive about an issue with him, hopefully back to my old self a bit more. But I woke up this am with a particular sort of headache I get when stressed - so must take care today. I want to go for a good long walk today - will see if I can get everything else done.

This is a great thread idea. I've worked loads this week - been in to school for 2 days - so am feeling fed up.

Have 2 DC - DD is 16 and about to sit her GCSEs, DS is 6. DH hates me being a teacher because I am either working or knackered.

So many things on the OP are things I want to do for myself. My house is a tip, my body is a tip and I feel like all I do is work and sleep. There has to be more to it than this and I want to start feeling like I have a life. I do love my job, but it is trying to kill me.

Today I took time off, visited a friend, then also sorted out DS' bedroom. Tomorrow I will work, but I am absolutely determined that we are having a day out on Sunday as we so rarely do this. No work - one day for us before the hideous onslaught of GCSE/A Level/BTEC. Sigh.

I also seem to be drinking loads of caffeine at the moment too and actively miss smoking at the moment. Suspect this should be a warning sign that I have too much going on!

kinkydorito - have your day out. Seriously, we need things like that to keep us going. Teaching will expand to fill every second if we let it - a bit like that weird cavity installation foam. Er, if you see what I mean.

Absolutely lbn. I've been letting it for 12 years and I'm reaching tolerance. This year will be hectic due to nature of responsibility and I can't step back now, but next year should be calmer and I'm tempted to hone my 'no' ready for it. I am determined to have a home life. I look around me and it is totally chaotic. Work think I'm great, but it comes at a massive price. My priorities are all wrong.

What a brilliantly timed thread. Thank you OP. I need to mark more in lunch hour, but want to fit in a 10 main walk every dry day as my blood pressure is high for first time in my life :-(

I do love my job, but it is trying to kill me.

This. I nearly cried when I read this. Exactly how I feel.

I did get the boys to clean the car and have started lists for tomorrow. Am avoiding my school bag because I am dreading the reality of how much work I should have done but will go down now and at least think about next week.

Also I'm going to post about an issue with my best friend that has been causing me anxiety and get some advice. I think my new motto this half term is going to have to be to ask for help when I need it.

Just read through this thread as going back to primary post maternity leave for the first time. Lucky to only be going back part time but imagining that will bring about its own challenges. I was quite strict and didn't bring marking home other than big write vain of my life however I went in very early and left fairly late in order to be able to do this. Neither of which I will be able to do... My poor ds

My resolution is not to reinvent the wheel. If there is a decent TES resource, I WILL USE IT.
I will also do the subject leaders stuff ASAP instead of at the last minute.
And mark at school.
And not volunteer recklessly for anymore lunchtime clubs. The chaos of a lunchtime knitting club in primary has to be seen to be believed.

I went in today and made an Enchanted Forest. I'm as ready as I'll ever be.
Tomorrow I'm due in Earls Court and on to a houseboat party but what I really want to do is stay in bed. Dc are with their dad on a rare access visit, I've had them ft and work ft for a month including Ofsted and I'm tired. 'Good' but tired. And yeah, kinkyd, I really want a cigarette too and haven't smoked for 15 years.

It's a kick ass Forest btw.

I've just found out that our HT is leaving. On Friday. "Retiring" Shit. I hate not knowing what's around the corner.

kick ass Forest

ickle I always work at home, but poor DS has to sit and watch me. At least I'm with him. I also find I work better as when I try and stay at work, people need to see me. I get far more done in my own space. I book him into childcare until 5pm, he stays and plays, then I bring him home and carry on. The only thing I need to do is be stricter over my weekends. I'm still working considerable hours on both days; I want to try and do it all in the week so that I am a parent and part of a family on a weekend. I can dream! And, when push comes to shove, we still get 13 weeks a year in our home (not mentioning the two days in work this week...) that other professions don't get. I had DD and chose to teach because of that reason. At least we are measuring time in little chunks - if you can manage those 6 weeks, you get a lovely week .

The other downside to working at home is that SLT think you leave on the bell and do nothing, like the only people who do anything extra are sitting at their desks still .

The chaos of a lunchtime knitting club in primary has to be seen to be believed. Crochet?

And yeah, kinkyd, I really want a cigarette too and haven't smoked for 15 years. Yep, I nearly bought some yesterday. I didn't, but lord! Congrats on the kick-ass forest. Sounds like way more fun that going into school to sort out a massive BTEC file for a subject that I now lead that I have never taught before in my life...

Evil I understand that. Fear on the unknown.

I love the Kick-Ass Enchanted Forest - you can't do that very often in Secondary...
Also like the idea of the job trying to kill us - I have an image of a Percy Jackson-esque mythic monster of a job battling us.
phlebasconsidered - absolutely agree about using existing resources. I spent hours making a resource once, really pleased about it, opened a resource booklet - there it was, already done for me. There is enough to do. Although making resources used to be one of my favourite things to do...

Sanity plan
I have:
booked our night away
got a bit further with planning DS's birthday party - need to finalise that as the poor boy did not have a party last year as I left it very late to organise, then had Ofsted. That makes me feel really shit typing that.
meal planned for the week

I still need to:
sort outfits for the week (which will involve the dreaded ironing)
have an attempt at sorting out at least part of DS's room - there are two library books in there somewhere, they are horribly overdue.

DH and I are having a takeaway tonight - might not sound the most exciting Saturday night but DD is in a play so needs taking and collecting.

I have corralled all my work stuff that I have here onto an IKEA Råskog Cart - need to go through it and sort it out. Need to do some marking but procrastinating...

Good luck everyone. We will remain sane and the job will NOT devour us.

Oh, and EvilTwins - that is unsettling. You don't retire from teaching suddenly - there must be something going on? I hate uncertainty like that - I hope things become clearer for you on Monday.