Que Sara Sara

As I work in education with students with disabilities, I often work for 5 weeks of the summer. Last summer was absolutely Hell. I had one week between the regular year ending and the summer program starting to put together a summer resource room for lower elementary students, many with behaviors. I had no access to their behavior plans or IEPs (Individual Education Plans), both of which I needed so that I could better understand the students and where a behavior might be coming from. It was all extremely overwhelming and frustrating.

By the end of the regular year I had been in burnout for over a year. Covid, money issues (I had to buy a ton of supplies and wasn’t compensated for them or given a stipend. I counted it on my taxes though!), a poor evaluation, my grandmother being ill and passive aggressive, and then the crazy 5 weeks… by the end of summer school I had an epic meltdown at home. I was sobbing, slamming recyclables into containers (careful with the glass), and not being able to tell everyone everything that was going on. The expectations were insurmountable and I could no longer handle it. The volcano, after 1.5 years, erupted.

This school year is getting better, but the first semester wasn’t god at all. I reached full burnout, meltdowns nearly daily, and I also became dangerously depressed.

So, this summer I am doing things for me. For the first time in 13 years I am not teaching summer school. My paychecks have been spread out over the year (also a first), so I finally get paid over the summer vs just the 5 wks of summer school. What am I doing? I’m going to tackle my disaster of a bedroom. It isn’t trash, just very unorganized. I’m spending 3 days with a friend in Salem, Mass. I’ve never been and I’m super excited. I’m also going to a comicon in Boston closer to the end of the summer. Again, I’ve never been. Wendy and Richard Pini will be there!! They wrote and drew my favorite comics, ElfQuest. I’m super excited about that too!! So, lots of rest, relaxation, and fun!!