Hello Mrs Sykes

Lately, I noticed that I feel this compulsive  need to care what others think. A lot. As I prepare for the TPT Conference awesomeness of next week, I am scared. See, I am a socially awkward person. Really. If you've chatted with me  away from school , you'll see how I am able to stick my foot in my mouth. A lot. Fortunately, I make a decent first impression. :)

I'm a teacher. I know teachers don't make much; I knew it when I began teaching in '98. I never got into teaching for the paycheck. I want to make it clear that I am *not* complaining. I am a very fortunate person with a family who makes me laugh every day.  :)  I feel a huge gratitude to have a job that helps me feel as though I am making a difference in the world. Teachers have lean times like everyone else, and we have times that we are overcome by the goodness that comes from the world. That being said, today I want to tell you what a relief to be able to walk into a grocery store and spend an unbudgeted $45 without guilt. By the way, I know unbudgeted is not a word, but you know what I meant. Doesn’t sound like much, does it? Well, here’s my journey to that $45: it is 3 weeks until Christmas, and the only people  I've  been shopping for are my kiddos.  I  have a little health issue, so I'm working half-time this year. The budget is key ...

Ugh.  One of the worst parts of having depression  is that sometimes, for no reason at all, everything stinks.  This happened to me last spring.  It started with being a bit tired/unmotivated.  A month later, I realized I had neglected housework, the yard, and things I am usually passionate about - like this blog.   At the same time, I felt completely overwhelmed. by. everything.  I got through it with a lot of rest, time, support from friends, love from my family, and learning not to be so hard on myself.  I am working on my gratitude, and seeing the blessings present in my daily life as a way to beat depression, including opening myself up to new friendships and opportunities. { source } As we gear up to begin a new school year, I just want to remind myself (and all of you) to be gentle on yourself and each other.  We truly don't know what personal struggles each other face, and we need to be mindful. { source } Teachers are a r...

Me: "Say it with me, class.   Sabbatical .  It means I'm not going to be a teacher for a while, but I'll come back the next year." Precious #1: "Are you having a baby?" Me: "No." Precious #2: "Are you sure you're not pregnant?" Me: "I'm positive." Precious Group: "But Mrs. Sykes, what will you do?" {source} Rest, Refresh, Regroup, Relax, Recharge, Rewind, Refocus...  All of these are on my itinerary for the coming year.  This is a decision I did not make lightly, but did with much contemplation.  I love teaching.  I am really good at working with students.  I big, pink, puffy heart love my teammates! I just need a break.  For me.  I've shared my past struggles with depression , and I know that this is something triggered by living in a state of stress.  I'm hoping that a few months to a year of recharging time will help me better deal with stress in the future.  Luckily, my hubby has conv...

This post is a personal one for me.  Don't judge - it just makes me feel better to put it out there.  ;) Some of y'all might know I'm a *bit* stressed   crazy   nuts  stressed about report cards, assessments, Profile Cards that do not align with my county's pacing guide, developmental expectations being thrown out the window as I prepare 7 year olds for standardized testing (complete with bubbling), and tracking out of my classroom for the first time in years.  It's The Super Teacher Myth . What isn't helping matters is my personal battle with depression .  I have been battling this illness since being diagnosed when I was 15.  Most days, I am fine, but during periods of high stress, it becomes unmanageable.  That's when I rely heavily on the village of support I have around me: family, friends, coworkers, my amazing therapists, my kids' teachers, strangers, etc.  We have more frozen meals, more cozy family time, and a messier h...

I know many of you are going back to school soon, so y'all should probably just ignore this post.  It's kind of a downer, and I don't want to cause you unnecessary stress, but it feels cathartic to share this, even though I'm telling you not to read it. I'm in my 6th week back in school, and having a very difficult time doing my job this year.  My green beans are very sweet, and I miss them when I am not there.  These kiddos remind me of why I became a teacher.  I am there to help them become independent, critical thinkers who will benefit our society and the world as adults.  My job is important, and I take it seriously. However, there's the downside: paperwork, meetings, new curriculum, little support for new curriculum, more paperwork, more meetings to discuss the paperwork, 10 different passwords to enter data in 10 different websites - all of which are {apparently} important, changes in how we collect the data, changes in how we analyze the da...