The Dread

Disclaimer: I absolutely love teaching and I am very thankful to have a job :)

The Dread is something that I have been fighting every year since I've been a real teacher. You'd think, going into year 4, that I would have a better handle on it this time, but I really don't.

For all of you non-teachers out there, The Dread is the feeling you get when back-to-school is imminent. It is not unlike the sword of Damocles hanging over your head. Or maybe it's an evil shadow blocking out the sun. It's whatever approaching doom looks like.

After my first year of teaching, The Dread came upon me about five weeks before back-to-school, about halfway through. It has been an exercise in willpower to keep The Dread at bay for as long as I can. This year, it seems to have hit about 2 or 3 weeks before back-to-school.

The thing about The Dread is that if you're not careful it can absolutely ruin what vacation you have left. It's all too easy to pout and sigh, and think of the complete loss of freedom right around the corner.

I'm trying to be pro-active about it this year. I'm going to cram in so much fun in the next two weeks that I will literally rupture the time-space continuum. I have so many novels to read, TV and movies to watch, crafts to make, sleeping in to do, and yummy things to bake that I just might implode from all the fun.

Meanwhile, here are moms in August everywhere...

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

So what's the term for Mothers' relief in thinking about back-to-school? "The Anticipation?" I know you'll squeeze in that FUN! Mom

Duez said...

I know I have been hit in the head a lot (many multiple college football concussions) but I just LOVE back to school time. I can not wait to meet my new students.

Not much dread here, but I recognize that there is something wrong with me.

Sarah said...

Part of the problem is that, as a special education teacher, I don't get a whole batch of new students from year to year. I just follow the kids on my caseload! There is good and bad to that :)

Anonymous said...

I'm with you on this one...

Got my class lists today and oooooooooh...

Anonymous said...

Ah yes. The Dread. I know it well.

dad

Anonymous said...

I have 3 weeks left, and that alone did not bring Dread. But then I realized my calendar was filling up, so the loss of do-nothing time does bring on Dread!

Anonymous said...

I am a college student in a teaching program and I just had to comment to say thank you for your candor. I am so sick of people who act like everything is completely perfect. I'm starved for a little honesty every now and then. It is so refreshing when someone is confident enough in themselves to reveal their humanity. I think it's totally natural even for someone who likes their job and is good at it to still dread the end of vacation days! --CV

Anonymous said...

I had my first school-related dream last night.

I have 9 days of freedom left.

Yes, the Dread - I am familiar with it.

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