Sunday, January 4, 2009

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I Love Ya, Tomorrow

If you've come to see the results of the naming contest, go here. If not, don't go anywhere. Until you come to the comment form. Once there, leave a word or two describing my awesomeness, and then you are free to go. And please keep your hands and arms inside at all times. Thank you.

And now we return to normal programing.

Can I just say how excited I am about tomorrow? I may even take the advice I always give my children when they're waiting for something exciting to happen, and go to bed super early so morning can come even sooner. (And after my holiday hours, it's going to seem awfully early, believe me).

And what is it I'm so excited about? What wonderful, glorious thing happens tomorrow? (As if every mother out there doesn't already know EXACTLY what I'm referring to) TOMORROW THEY GO BACK TO SCHOOL!!!!

And I don't mean the neighbors.

I mean them. The ones currently wrestling all over my house (because that's what boys do), teasing their sister (because they do that too), and being bored and hungry the rest of the time.

It was so much fun having them home that first unexpected week when we had the snow days. It was really quite pleasant having them around as Christmas drew closer. Christmas day, I even managed to enjoy them between Nerf gun blasts and nose blowing. The next few days were a blur of messes, and toys, and cold-recovery, but they weren't so bad. As we've drawn closer to tomorrow, however, things have begun to go south.

They're wrestling more. They're teasing more. And they are now the boredest, hungriest kids in the entire universe. (And yes, I know 'boredest' isn't an actual word. Whatever.) I guess you could say that their bored little minds are ready for a little stretching.

And while I'm on the subject of it, can I take a moment to say "God bless elementary teachers"? Seriously. Any woman willing to sacrifice every ounce of energy (both physical AND mental) to teach children and decorate bulletin boards is a saint. Do any of you know what that job is like?

Well, let me tell you. As you know, I am a substitute teacher. I've subbed in elementary school. The children are both adorable AND adoring, but it is constant interaction the entire day. Like every second of every minute. (Well, there was that time I sent the second graders out to recess and took a nice long break until some adult knocked on the door and informed me that my door was locked, and the children had been standing outside for at least ten minutes. I was wondering when their recess was supposed to be over...)

I love subbing in high school. I enjoy subbing in middle school. I will (when absolutely necessary) sub in the sixth grade. Anything below that - forget it. Just looking at those bulletinboards gives me a craft-headache. I can't imagine having to decorate them (and the entire room) for every changing season, and every single holiday. When I get off work from a nice cushy day telling high schoolers to be quiet and do their work, I go to my kids' school to pick them up. Just watching the adults wrangle the children waiting for their parents gives me a headache.

And then I think, "Those amazing women have been doing this ALL DAY LONG. And every day for who knows how long."

And what's even more amazing? They like it. I think some of them even like the decorating/bulletin board thing.

So God bless the teachers, every one. Thank you for all you do. For teaching and mediating, disciplining and tolerating, liking and even loving my children. Mothers every where would be a little more insane without you - not to mention what you're doing for my children and their little minds. I know that I personally, would be lost without you.

And YAY!!! for tomorrow! I may even miss them in my quiet house. Well, maybe not. I'll love them the whole time they're gone, however, and be thrilled to see them when they get home. But the hours in between going and coming are mine. I may even nap. It'll be beautiful.

And may all your tomorrow's be as quiet and peaceful as mine.

21 comments:

Alison Wonderland said...

A-freaking-men! To all of it. Christmas break is fine, but still being out for New Years? Give me break, they don't even know what that is. And the teachers, all of them get immediate sainthood.

Camille said...

I was just discussing this with my mother in law! I'm so excited, I might take a 3 hr bath WITH bubbles. The only thing I'm getting anxious about is the return of piano students!

Camille said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
J. Baxter said...

Machen - thanks for the reminder.

Nutty Hamster Chick said...

First of all I must be obediant and so totally and stupendous are the two words I have for your awesomeness.

And secondly, I agree with Alison, AMEN. Except only two of my three kids, actually four if you count my husband, will go back to school tomorrow.
My husband teaches at a community college and he is still off for two more weeks. So he can watch the other schoolless child while I go to breakfast with friends to celbrate the wonderfulness of all the kids being back in school.
I can taste the garden crepe at IHOP already.
And school teachers rock so hard and not even paid enough for what they do.

R Allen said...

Can I just say, "I LOVE SCHOOL" and though I also HATE SCHOOL, because they teach my kids all sorts of rubbish, I still LOVE SCHOOL.

Weighing it up, school won out over my fear that the kids will turn into emo cutters...

I'm a great mother.

UtahJenny said...

Yay - Yay - Yay!!!
(I echo all of your yays!
Have a good Monday everyone!

J. Baxter said...

Pat - You are so obedient. Apparently, everyone else that comes here are rebels. And technically, I'll have my two year old, and then my five year old, but it's still so.much.better.

R Max - My children already know that anything emo will never be tolerated. I've seen way too much scary stuff at work to go there!

(But I too am still sending them to school...)

Anonymous said...

See, here is an awesome opportunity for you to once again rely on your blogging friends. If you ever, and I mean EVER have to decorate a bulletin board, just call me! I love decorating bulletin boards! I used to do this all the time at BYU when I was a secretary for the El Ed Dept. and Brad Wilcox and I would take a week off every other month and raid the materials lab downstairs in the McKay Building, and go hog-wild with our staplers and butcher paper and that awesome Die-Cut machine! So seriously, call me!

J. Baxter said...

Sue - where were you when I was primary prez?????

evitafjord said...

Okay, mine are gone - except the 2 not old enough yet. The little one is adorable, but he is putting a serious cramp in my celebration with his cereal-dumping, mess-making ways.

My husband is a first-year teacher and I had no idea how much it would ROCK to have him home all Christmas Break. I'm still sane AND my house is cleaner than it was pre-break. I'm going to school to teach (4th-8th probably) because I want Christmas and summers off too dang it!!

nikkicrumpet said...

Yup they are angels of mercy with chalk. I don't know how they do it...but they have my admiration. My kids are all grown but they never would have lived through childhood if they were home schooled!

The Crash Test Dummy said...

Amen to the God Bless elementary teachers. And Boredest is a word. (I think). And hee hee. You are so cute.

Natalie said...

Great minds think alike! I too was tempted to blog about the beauty that is the first day of school after WEEKS of no school. I was in a complete panick last night when it was snowing AGAIN and the street was a slippery sheet of ice and the wind blew so hard that our power went out... and I thought "Oh, NO! They can't cancel school AGAIN!!!" And then, this morning, as I fought with Brooke to wear clothes to school and brush her hair and Lane was throwing a fit because his legs grew over Christmas break and his size 12 pants were an inch too short and his size 14 pants were "too big" I remembered how much I hate getting the kids ready for school in the AM. Then, oddly enough, I got all teary and sad watching them climb the bus steps and my house seems suddenly TOO quiet just like it did back in September. I'm just never happy, I tell ya.

melissabastow said...

I didn't keep my hands and arms in.....do I get kicked off your blog now? I just really had to flail a little bit, for imaginary bug purposes which is completely unaccomplishable with my arms "inside." You know what I mean? And also, you are splendidly remarkable (see how that was totally non-rebellious? I should get points for that.) And also, my sister teaches 6th grade and I think she's insane. I tried to sit in on my husband's 11 year old primary class once and just about had some kind of spasm. I can only handle my children...and only on certain days....I don't think today was one of them...

J. Baxter said...

Melissa - don't worry, eventually there will be school.

annie valentine said...

This post means nothing to me. With the exception of four very fast hours, I GET NO RELIEF.

And I missed the whole two word thing, where was that? Am I supposed to tell you two words that sum you um? How about, Big Sister. The big reference is about your boobs. Lucky girl.

Kristin said...

kay, ur awesome. So when is your birthday? I am so bringing you a bulletin board, ok maybe something more crafty like a crocheted tissue box cover.

Camille said...

Ms Jen, I don't think I'm good at anything until I win a major competition, like yours. Just wait til your next limerick competition. I'll be there with major submissions.

Alyson | New England Living said...

I can't even imagine being a teacher. You're sooooo right! Elementary school would be extremely tiring.

In New England, the kids only get off a little over a week for Christmas. So, basically, we don't get to the point of complete annoyance with the kids at home.

Jimh. said...

I am happy to be back in the classroom, too! I am teaching elementary music this week and the kids are amazingly tolerant of my musical incompetence!

I love ALL grades! Although, seventh graders have yet to win my affection. 6th is my favorite so far, since they get my jokes and are immature enough to laugh!