Epiphany

for the past three days...

I am waking up before the alarm even goes off.

I am SKIPPING to the shower.

I am ON TIME for work.

I smile at Sparky this morning and proudly proclaim to him, "I LOVE MY JOB!"

(He looks at me kinda funny)

I get to work and enjoy teaching!

My 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders write marvelous works that I proudly display on the walls of my classroom.

I come home tonight, an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach...I am planning ahead for tomorrow.

It is THEN that I realize that the reason for my happiness, my sheer joy for the past 3 days:

I haven't had to teach 1st graders all week.

I mean - by themselves, they are cute. (Well, most of them) But collectively? Squirmy little bugs. Who eat boogers. And make noises with their armpits.

Tomorrow I have them once again because tonight is their music program. Thus, the music teacher will not be taking them from me anymore. I do believe it is time for the great countdown once again:

Days left to teach 1st graders : 14