My List of Current Worries

There's lot going on...do I say that a lot? I don't think there's been a time in my adult life that I could look back and say, "Gee...I've nothing to do and lots of time in which to do it!" I think I'm like my dad in that respect. I always seem to have lots going on. Most of it is unnecessary and the stress I feel is almost always self-imposed. I also tend to worry...much more than I should and again, more than necessary. I'm really trying to be positive and have faith that God knows what Hes doing. So, here are the concerns that plague me at the moment.


1) My child's teacher for next year-My school district has a new way of assigning students to classes this year. Usually, parents fill out a teacher request form and then students are placed lottery-style into classes and then you find out over the summer who your kid got for the next year. This year, there was no request form. Students were also informed their class assignment on the report card on the last day of school. We were surprised at Raelynn's assignment..."Vacant." David spoke to the principal and she assured us that they had, in fact, hired for that position but it hadn't gone to the school board yet for approval. The teacher was great, experienced....a dream come true. So I felt a little easier. All summer I've not heard anything from her teacher and I started to stress. A friend advised me to read the school board minutes this week and I find that the teacher that was hired this summer to be Raelynn's teacher has resigned. Resigned before the school year has even begun. Now, if this was June, I don't think I'd be as concerned. But you see, teachers in this district go back to work a week from now. Students start three days after that. I'm trying hard not to panic. At times, finding a qualified person that's right for the job at this late date can be a challenge. So obviously, God has a plan for us and this is part of it. To worry about it or stress about it, won't change the outcome and shows little faith in God. So I'm trying my very best to remember that He is all knowing and will give us exactly what we need....not always what we want. If you see me around and I'm hyperventilating because of this issue, please remind me to keep the faith.


2) Death-Not my own, but those around me. It seems everyone is dying. A few weeks ago, we lost three major stars in one week-Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson. Right after that, my high school choir teacher, Joe Wilt, died. Just a few days ago, David's Uncle Roy died and we spent a couple of days traveling around to the visitation and the funeral. This morning, my Aunt Ruby (married to my dad's now deceased brother, Lamar) died. They were married for over 50 years and her husband, my uncle, died a couple of years ago. It seems like lots of people around me are dying. It makes you wonder if you're next.....not good.

3) Returning to work- Teachers live for summer. True, we get lots of time off, but unlike other professions, I don't think everyone understands that I don't get paid for the summer. I work 185 days a year and only get paid for those days. As I've been teaching longer and longer, I've come to understand that the summer break is necessary to the well-being of the teacher. It's like playing with an Etch-A-Sketch. Doodle on it for 10 months straight, and you need a couple of months to shake it clear again. I go back to work in a week and there's still so much to do. I'm in grad school and taking classes this summer, so I don't feel like I've had a true summer vacation.


4) The amount of work left to be done in my classroom-This is something that I feel each summer but for some reason am really feeling anxious about. At the end of the school year, I take about two days to pack up everything in my room and get it up off the floor so custodians can clean and wax the floors. It literally takes me three weeks to unpack it all and reorganize it. There seems to have been lots going on around here lately and I've not done nearly what I should have to get it near completion. It hurts me to look at the clutter that accumulates in my room. I have a hard time getting everything back to where it belongs during the school year. There's just so much to do. I really depend on my time off from school to get stuff back to it's working order.


These are the major things on my mind at the moment. There are a few of things I've been thinking about but just haven't mentioned. I wouldn't want you to worry...I do enough of that for the both of us...