Cheeseburger Year

Like a good cheeseburger, there are a few important parts that make up the year for me as a wife, mom, and teacher. "The days are long but the years are short,"--I'm not sure who said that, but I'm almost certain it had to be a teacher or a mother. Although it wasn't me who said the quote originally, I agree with it nonetheless. Anyway, for my first blog post, I have an analogy comparing the year of a teacher to a cheeseburger that I'd like to share before it absolutely leaves me like so many of my thoughts tend to do these days. Maybe it's just me or maybe you can relate... First, the bread, the sesame bun--is the regular days--working, daily responsibilities at school and work and home, important daily duties, just getting stuff done, checking things off your list, living life. Sometimes these days are mundane and ordinary, but it’s what holds our cheeseburger together. Then the hamburger patty (or turkey, tofu--you do you!) is the rich, fun stuff--going to church, family get-togethers, date nights, celebrations with friends, a field trip; times you look forward to, plan for, and get excited about. Maybe it's just getting your nails or hair done, or getting a new outfit that makes you feel good. Sometimes it’s things that happen pretty often but not everyday and sometimes not even every week. These times stand out from your ordinary days; the times you might want to make sure you take pictures of and always remember.  The cheese and spices or condiments are next and are the smallest little slivers on the cheeseburger but are really what represent the biggest events that melt onto and flavor everything else in your cheeseburger year and even our entire life. These are the times that don’t occur very often; times that make your heart jump or might make you anxious--marriage, you or your spouse/partner get a new job or promotion, a birth, buying a house, watching your kid graduate or take a big step in their life. Sometimes they worry you and you lose sleep over them if you're like me. These events can happen few and far between, sometimes only once or twice a year. These can be life-changing events for you or someone you love.  Next is the lettuce and it's the crazy times when you don’t know if you’re going or staying, and it’s hard to grasp your sanity. These times might or might not happen regularly and are fairly short bits of time, but they tend to accumulate and cause stress (sometimes daily)--oversleeping, running late, deadlines you have procrastinated, toothaches, bills are due and your car is in the shop and you have to make a choice, maybe a lesson fell flat or you're being observed by an administrator on a less than prime day. Everything is going wrong that could possibly go wrong. These are the times that make you long for a few extra hours in the day just so maybe you can give your own personal kids the amount of attention you give your students. These are those make-you or break-you times. But they help teach you to be better and do better next time. The struggle-is-real days are for real and occur far too often lately for me if I'm honest. They can be times that possibly make you want to drink that second glass of wine (or third--no judgment!).
Finally, there’s the tomato. Ahh, the delicious tomato--it’s the sweet slice of a teacher's year that’s the "reward" for all the hard work and extra loooong hours. You plan all year for this time. Some might say it’s a “perk” to being a teacher. And others might say it's compensation or recuperation time. Though many teachers work a second job in the summer months (and even during the school year), it's usually nothing compared to the daily physical, emotional, and psychological demands of teaching. This time of the year makes the stresses of daily life disappear for a few days at a time and you can, hopefully, live like you have no worries at all. It happens once every year for about two months. You might have work to do during this time, but sometimes you can work by the pool or on the couch in your pajamas, so it's not quite as demanding. If you haven’t guessed it, the tomato is summer vacation. And I know people say they want a life they don’t need a vacation from--well, let’s be honest, how’s that working for most of us? Vacations are nice, no matter who you are or what your profession. I love my life. I love and cherish my family, my job, and my students. I consider myself extremely fortunate, and I’m so very grateful!! But that tomato is what I live for sometimes, especially times like now with all of the end-of-the-school-year madness. That crazy lettuce has overwhelmed us for the last two months and now we finally get to enjoy the tangy, carefree tomato. My first week of summer vacation is RESERVED for me, myself, and my family for relaxation, rewinding, rejuvenating, and recreation!! I can’t wait to go camping and grill some cheeseburgers. Now that I really think about it, maybe I was just hungry when I started writing this. 🤔😏