Take Care of Yourself!

Teaching is hard.

Loving and supporting little individuals, with minds and personalities of their own is not easy. So why do you do it?
I started teaching, to put myself through college. I was going to be a veterinarian.  (I am still using lots of skills I learned preparing for that field, everyday with classroom pets.) I stayed a teacher because I fell in love with my kids. So why do you teach?

I have many wonderful days with my class. Then I have thousands of average days, with my class. Then I have runs of Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Days where I am not even sure Australia is far enough away and Mars sounds peaceful. But I get up every morning, actually eager to see my kids. And go back. So why do you go back everyday?
 One of the things I discovered early on was I needed to know why I chose teaching, why I went back every day and I needed to know how to recharge. Have you asked yourself these questions? Only you can answer them.

I teach because: I am amazed by their minds and thoughts. I love learning with them and because of their questions. But my biggest reason is I can not image not getting up and going to school. I can't imagine not seeing their smiles, hearing their giggles and not helping them through their difficult moments. I do it for the pay. (Hugs, snuggles, drawings and paintings, and never ending trust that they are my most important treasure.) Yes, I am rich beyond measure, but penny poor. So why do you teach?

I come back because: I make a difference in each life. I matter to these children and they depend on me. I need them in my life because they teach me so much about them and myself. Why do you go back?

I recharge by: drawing, writing, painting and learning. I recharge by taking time away from work, by going on restful vacations and camping. I recharge by reading, crocheting and sometimes knitting (not always recharging). I recharge by reevaluating my whys in the above questions. If children ever slip out of the main focus then it is time to either recharge or find another calling for my life. A passion never burns you out if you take care of yourself.