Lifesavers

 Yesterday was an extremely frustrating day.  I felt like quitting.  For real.  I felt like taking my ball and going home.  My students had all sorts of various and bizarre behaviors (including but not limited to the student who pulled their pants down and went to the bathroom on the grass during recess)!

The aide who told me about it said, "You could teach for 50 years and never be prepared for what is going to happen!"

She is not wrong.

I also had frustrations with adults.  It was a pretty rotten day.  The more amped up we get about end of year state testing, the more my students' behavior disintegrates.  Ugh.

When I got to the car to drive home, I did the wisest thing I could think of and I called Braeden.

I talked to him while I drove home and told him all the things.  He said all the right things (why I called him).

When I got home, I FaceTimed with him so I could lay my eyes on the Young Prince.  That was the dopamine hit that I needed to right the ship.  (QE was busy, but that is the advantage of two grandchildren.)

After I got off the phone with Braeden, I called Mark upstairs.  I said, "I had a bad day."

He said, "And I'm the lucky one who is around to hear about it?"

I said yes.

I told him all about it.  He also said the right things + he hugged me.

Adam was on a plane, but I know enough to know that when the chips are down, my boys will come through.

This morning while I was getting ready for work, I listened to a conference talk.  It was "Ministering-That Ye Love One Another; as I Have Loved You," by Kristin Yee.

It wasn't meant for third grade teachers who want to burn it all down because they are so frustrated.  It's also not not for third grade teachers who want to burn it all down because they are so frustrated.  God is in the details of our lives.  I know that.  These words helped me.

We may not be able to fix difficult or heartbreaking circumstances as we hope; some changes are not ours to make.

Some changes are not ours to make.  I need to tattoo that on my heart.

When we pause and choose to care for someone over something, His Spirit and love can enter in and we can receive the peace and perspective that we really need.

I am so grateful for little messages of truth that lift me and remind me and keep me going.