13 Jobs, 7 Hours

One thing I like about teaching is the variety. It would drive me crazy having to do the same thing, day after day, sitting in the same chair, at the same desk, waiting to eat at the same time. There's no way a teaching day could ever be repeated. Thankfully. I only have so many backup pairs of glasses. But here's the thing. While teaching, I'm actually doing about a dozen other jobs.

Don't believe me? Well, here's my day:

1. Shepherd Grade 8 and Pre-K students to Church for Ash Wednesday mass
2. Canvas. Some woman drew a cross on my forehead. 
3. Act as crossing guard for students
4. Act as Kleenex dispenser for literally the snottiest child on the planet.
5. Act as personal dresser to children under the age of 6
6. Actor. I act like I know what I'm talking about. 
7. Computer technician solving issues on two operating systems.
8. Factotum. I know all!
9. Film critique and yes, Magic School Bus counts as a film.
10. Social commentator. Literacy and education are major factors for ensuring quality of life.
11. Stand-up comedian. It's the only way to get their attention.
12. Temp-Mother. Because I pick up more stuff, repeat more requests and information and listen to more whining than I would if I was in another profession.
13. Mental patient. Seriously, they've given me a complex. 

See, I came up with thirteen. If I'd written this post yesterday, I would have added "target" for an even fourteen. 

I think most of my points are pretty clear. About my complex though. Two of my students never raise their hand to talk. They just shout out for me if they have questions. I was helping some girls across the room when I heard one of them call out "Miss Daily!". I continued to help the girls. "Miss Daily, Miss Daily, Miss Daily, Miss Daily, Miss Daily, Miss Daily!"It went on and on, even after I signalled that I'd heard them.  I finished with the girls, walked over to the two boys and I must have looked and sounded pretty scary when I told them to knock it off because they responded with "But we thought we were your favourite students!" I was just thankful to hear them say other words. I told them that I did like them, but that they were friggin' annoying. 

Ten minutes later, I was on the opposite end of the classroom and I swear I heard my name coming from the boys again. When I looked up, they were both working. No one was looking at me. No one had their hand up. I determined that I was hearing things. It's not the first time this happens...

My marbles are rolling away, one by one.

Lauren.