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

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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.

Playing an instrument does help, yes. I meet some friends once a month and we play together. I tried to join a community orchestra last year but only lasted a couple of weeks as I realised an evening a week " off" the treadmill was unsustainable.

I'm secondary. It's definitely exam stress time.

I'm in a choir. It's my absolute non-negotiable. It keeps me sane and is the one thing each week where I'm not "Miss" and I'm not "Mummy". I even went when we had OFSTED in the next day.

DH is away this week and I've got a babysitter for a couple of hours tomorrow so I can go to choir. It's my little oasis in the middle of the week.

Just realised I wrote that in my first post too. That's how strongly I feel about it!

I have recently joined a choir and an orchestra- despite teaching music all day for the last 15 years I haven't done any music for me, I am now. I have to and it has really positively impacted on my teaching too

Also crochet and knitting has kept me sane.

Stille - I sing in a choir too. We only meet about once a month, and I never feel like going afternoon a long, long day at work, but I force myself to go. Once I get there, I can't think about anything else because the music is so tricky and it really does give me the chance for a complete escape.

Bumping.

Too much work this weekend and I'm starting to feel crappy. I know that some people at work have had a bug and I am hoping I aren't starting with it as too much to do to be sick. Gah!

Kinky - I hope you are not coming down with anything more sinister than the usual Sunday evening dread.

I am definitely going under at the moment, I've tried to take it easy this weekend but have had a set of reports to write and really ought to get started on coursework marking, so not as simple as all that. Have sent husband out all day with the children to go swimming then visit relatives, so have at least had some peace and quiet.

Sympathy to everyone feeling like they are going under - reports are often the last straw for me. I swing from feeling like I am sinking to brief moments of positivity. I have done four 4 mile walks this week, which has made me feel a little better. DH is clearly pissed off with me though - he won't say anything directly, but I know I am not much fun at the moment. Feel rubbish about that, but only just holding it together. Three weeks to til Easter.

Well I haven't cried today so I'm counting that as a win. I am very aware of the effect that me being Grumpy Mum has on my family, as I remember being on the other end of it as a child, my mum was a teacher. Which is why I should have known better...

Really struggling. Had some great lessons but wondering if all this stress has killed my marriage. I have also developed a health problem which can be triggered by stress - very sobering. I know when I am at school tomorrow with my lovely colleagues and students I will get caught up in the good side of things again, but really wondering if it is worth it.

Not long til Easter! Going to plan good things and try to get ahead on home things to make my life a bit easier. Seems such a slog at the moment.