Things that currently make me want to put my (or someone else’s) hair out:
1. “Protocol”. I give said, “Protocol” the quotations because this protocol seems to only be used when it benefits others, and by nature, does NOT benefit me. This includes but is not limited to: Filling out paperwork, going to inane meetings, and having to call parents because, “Your baby is acting a fool.”
2. Duty. Every morning every teacher is expected to be at their assigned duty post. Mine is at the door where students walk through the metal detectors and get their bags checked to candy and junk food (and anything else they shouldn’t have). I hate duty. At 7:45 my coffee has not yet sunk in, and I am too tired to fuss at, say hello to, hug or smile at children. Or adults. Or even at myself. Call me Ms. Grouchy-pants.
3. The sound of chairs scooting. Ok, now this one you have to be a teacher to understand. My students work in centers, so every twenty minutes they switch to a new center. So every twenty minutes I hear the terrible sound that is metal scraping against the floor. Every twenty minutes from 8:00 until 4:00. At first, I even tried to implement that rule that you get a consequence for scooting your chair too loudly, until I saw students actually try and slightly lift their chairs above the floor to stop the chair from making the sound. I then realized that I was being unreasonable and maybe a little bit frightening, so I decided to chill out. I still hate that sound though.
4. People who don’t do their jobs. No explanation necessary.

Things that are making me excited to wake up in the morning and go to school:
1. Seeing my students learning. There is truly nothing like the experience of teaching something to a child and seeing the moment when it clicks on their face. Best. Feeling. Ever.
2. Realizing that my kids are excellent writers. We are finishing up our first formal writing assignment of the year, and while it has been tedious, it has also been awesome to see how great they already are. Goal: Five paragraph essays by May. Maybe.
3. Hearing funny little kid stories and opinions on life.
4. Seeing funny little kid actions.

All in all life is good. Exhausting but good. Amen.