First Day Back

I want to start by apologizing for not writing in so long.  I have had a hard time balancing my move, prepping for school, and blogging.  I miss the summer (the time, not the hot weather--it needed to be said). SO, I'm sorry to all that follow my blog and might feel disappointed in my lack of attention....

Ok, back to business.  Today was the first day back to school after the long months of summer.  I woke up with my normal "first day of school" jitters.  Even though I have been teaching for eight years, I still get nervous on the first day.  I think part of it is my people pleasing disfunction.  I care way too much about what people think of me; thus, I care way too much about what my students think of me.  Well, despite my nervousness, and my self-inflicted lack of preparation, my first day went well.  Being from Arkansas and now in the north, gives me a whole new bag of material to pull from when I see my students starting to leave me mentally.  Throw a little y'all their way, and I've got em.

For the past four years, I have taught an enormous course load, anywhere from 17 to 21 hours a semester.  This has had its ups and downs: extra money=good, extra work and always playing catch up=not as good.  This kind of schedule has left me a little burnt out.  I chose it though, so I'm not complaining.  With that said, when I had the chance to go part-time this semester in Findlay, I jumped for joy.  So, this semester I am teaching seven hours (two classes).  Yes,  you read that correctly: 7 hours!  I didn't have any idea what this would be like until today.  Today my class met at 11am.  I didn't have to be at school until 11am, and that's just the beginning.  My class was over at 11:50am, then I was done.  Yes, done!  After class, while I was walking back to the Math House, I was mentally organizing what was next and what I had to do to hurry for my next class, then I realized, "I have no next class."  A calm and peace came over me that I haven't felt in a long time.  I felt space to go and relax and not have to worry about school; something I only feel when I'm on Christmas or summer break.  It was wonderful.  I think this is going to be a good semester.