You know how people ask you how you're doing, and the polite answer is to say you're fine (or some equivalent such as: "it's all good," "can't complain," or my personal favorte: "I'm hangin' in there")? What would happen if, instead of falling back on the trite phrases, we all started telling people how we are really doing? If you're doing great, say so. If things aren't going so great, say that as well. Would the world implode if we didn't tell everyone we're fine?
I'll go first: I'm overwhelmed.
The start of school is always hectic. Creating lesson plans, learning students' names, finding time to grade everything, and just getting back into the swing of things makes my days busy. This year seems worse, however. There are several reasons for this. First, my older son, Timothy, is now in first grade, which means daily checks of the backpack, packing lunch, getting him started on homework, searching frantically for the missing _____ which he is certain he left _____ but which now has inexplicably disappeared, etc. This will, of course, only get worse as he gets older and he has more stuff to keep track of. Cameron, my younger son, is also now in preschool, so I have another schedule to be aware of.
Second, because my kids are getting older, they are getting into more activities. Swim lessons on Mondays, soccer practice on Tuesdays, cub scouts on Thursdays. I am Timothy's den leader. Eventually, that will be fun. Right now, it kind of freaks me out. I know nothing about scouting, so I'm kind of stumbling along in the dark at this point.
Third, my life outside of teaching is growing more complicated. I am, for the third school year in a row, taking online graduate courses. This year, however, my coursework requires me to sit in on a live class via video conference on Wednesday evenings. (If you're keeping track, that leaves only Friday evenings and weekends free). And, I'm involved in scout and church activities that take some of my precious little weekend time.
It may sound like I'm whining; that is not my intent. I have a great life: a fantastic husband, two amazing kids, a family I'm close with, and a job I enjoy. On the whole, things are good. But sometimes I just wish I could take a break, take a breath, and savor life. Instead, I feel like I am constantly rushing from one thing to another, never fully able to enjoy where I am because I'm too busy anticipating where I'm going next.
So, how am I? I'm overwhelmed.
What about you?
