I was really looking forward to…a meeting?

A couple times a month we have what we call a “3-4” meeting on Mondays after school.  Typically I dread them.  There are so many other things that I could be using that time for.  Especially since the topic is quite often repeated.  They feel like those meetings that you meet just to meet.  It is one more thing you have to do after an exhausting day.  I would rather use that time to grade, or lesson plan, or meet with my partner to discuss how things went that day.

Today we had a 3-4 meeting, except this time, I was actually looking forward to it.  In the beginning of the year, if you would have told me we get a couple extra weeks off during the year this year, I would have been thrilled. However, if you then told me that we get a couple extra weeks off, except we are quarantined to our houses, with no friends, no social life, no bars or restaurants….well then I would be feeling just like I am now. Miserable. I am a social person.  I need that interaction with others, whether it be friends, family, or colleagues. I love the time with my kids, it has been amazing, but you also need that adult interaction.

Today we got a half hour of “normalcy” I guess you would say.  We did a Zoom meeting with our staff today, and I was really excited for it.  I didn’t care what we talked about, it was just good to see some of those faces again.  It was good to make my annoying jokes that interrupt the meeting.  Because to me, that is normal, and that is who I am.  Even though we couldn’t be together, at least we got to talk, laugh, and see each other.  With the uncertainty of what the rest of this year will bring, we will need to lean on each other and be there for each other like we do during the normal school year.

It is funny that you never knew how much you would miss your job, until it is not there.  I do miss my students a lot.  It is tough for me not to see them everyday.  But, I miss my colleagues more.  We have the best staff, and they are what help me get through every day, no matter how tough it was.