I Forgot What End-of-Year Teacher Tired Felt Like

Oh hey there, summer! It’s nice to see you! Been awhile, huh? 

If you’re a teacher, or a mom, or a teacher-mom, you’re probably taking a big sigh of relief right now. I know I am! We made it, ladies! Here we are at the end of another school year, and I have a confession to make: I’m exhausted. You see, I forgot what end-of-the-year teacher tired feels like. 

I took a hiatus from teaching after the birth of my second child. It quickly became apparent that I made the right decision to exit the classroom, because baby number three followed very soon after! Don’t you just love surprises?! It seemed like my family experienced one major change after another. And after three years out of the classroom, I knew I wanted back in the game. Change. Change. More change. Keeps us on our toes, right?

It was the best of all worlds! My three children were able to come to school with me every day, and they thoroughly enjoyed pointing out to their friends that I was a teacher. (I’ll hold on to that sweetness for as long as I can!) I found my way onto an incredible team of teachers. But with all the amazing personnel, parents, and pupils, being a teacher is totally a labor of love – and even more so as the students set their sights on summer – it gets a little bananas!

Programs, pizza days, portfolios… it all comes to a head in May, and I am suddenly remembering how emotionally and physically taxing it is to wrap up an entire school year. In my case, I may not see my students again, so there’s that added layer of emotion. I poured my heart into these little people who have grown SO much this year, and I could not be more proud!

We played hard, worked hard, laughed hard, and sang our hearts out! They are leaving my class knowing how to write their names, count to twenty (and beyond!), rhyme, classify objects, and identify letters, sounds, numbers, shapes, and more! Can you guess which grade I teach now? 

Teaching AND parenting littles in tandem is something I never thought I would be able to do. I honestly didn’t think I had it in me! But through grace and grit, I can say that it was one of the most rewarding years of teaching I’ve ever experienced. I proved a lot to myself this school-year, and I showed my own kids that Mommy can do hard, albeit wonderful, things. 

If you’re anything like me, patting yourself on the back is something that you don’t do often. But teachers, get that hand out! You deserve a pat on the back.

And a nap. 

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Mollie Ryan
Mollie lives in Edmond and is a working mom of three children ages 6, 4, and 3. She is married to a wonderful, caring, and driven entrepreneur who turns dreams into reality! She was fortunate to stay home with her sweet littles for a couple short years, but returned to teaching in the fall of 2018- a rewarding and challenging experience. She is passionate about education, essential oils, and enjoys Masterpiece Classic on PBS. You can find her on Instagram @anessentialeducation.

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