OHMYGOD! Anyone who said Labor Day Weekend was a VACATION just was NOT a TEACHER!
I could end this post right now, and anyone in my teaching audience would understand, but for the rest of you, I will go on. (and on, and on, and on...)

To teachers, this is the REAL END. We are so selfish to even gripe, I mean SO often the thought goes through my mind that some people only get 2 weeks of vacation, if that. But we get 10 - yes - 10 - TEN weeks...2x5, 5+5, 5x2, 2+2+2+2+2. (of course it is JUST because I am a teacher, particularly a teacher of third grade teachers who is charged with the responsibility of teaching the "Multiplication Machine," that I write this particular sentence this particular way:)

It is funny because I am pretty sure I approach this last week of "summer" before Labor Day weekend the same way every year. I go into it saying I am going to keep it sacred...I have my days carved out that I am going to work in school, I have a goal for what I would like to do with the week for myself, for my family, and I figure that Labor Day weekend will be mine/ours to spend with myself, and my family and my OWN LIFE...then the inevitable happens. The stress of work begins to poke at my mind. Things need to get done. A classroom that you thought was pretty much good to go is suddenly a complete and utter disaster that you can't even imagine functioning in. You panic about whether or not you did actually copy papers and worksheets that you think you did. You try to go into school and the cleaning staff is working hard and you can't access your classroom...the list is endless.

And these stresses aren't limited to starting back into your classroom routine, they are present at home as well. You suddenly realize all of the home projects that you didn't get done in your 10 WEEKS of time, or that need to be wrapped up. You realize your personal goals for the summer were really only half met, if that. Your kids need school clothes and supplies, physicals, activity sign ups, and, you possibly have family knocking at your door wanting to see you for the "Holiday Weekend" completely unaware that as they are winding down, you are all wound up.

It is complaining, a bit I suppose, because as I said, we do get 10 WEEKS. But boy oh boy, that September 1st pull is strong. It is such a gift that we work in a profession that allows us to renew, and to start fresh each year, but those fresh starts can be tough. In a couple of weeks it will all wind down. We will fall back into our normal school year routines, so familar and comforting. The year will progress and amazingly, May will come, and with it thoughts of another summer. And I suppose that is how the mind has to settle its disrest. There will always be another summer, there is always tomorrow, and what doesn't get done today will still be there in the morning. I hope upon hope to TRY to enjoy these last few moments of summer, and Stress, I suppose it is time for the "Welcome Back!" greeting. It is time to start our complicated little dance yet again:)

- Cheryl