Since I've started having summers off, I have yet to get away with one where absolutely nothing was happening in my life. My first involved when my husband and I were getting married and then took off to Europe for our honeymoon for a few weeks. My second summer involved me working extremely hard on my degree and training our new dog. With the wedding done and school finished, by spring my cousin pointed out that really, nothing major would be keeping me busy this summer. However, my sister and now brother-in-law got married last weekend so to be fair, I was helping out where and when I could with everything leading up to it. Now that it's over, in a week's time, my husband and I are taking a break and heading off for our own vacation. When we get back, I'll be back to work. Meaning, summer is officially over.
Personally, I feel these two months go incredibly fast as like I mentioned there's always something going on. Really, it's a time for teachers to catch up on things they don't get to do like everyone else during the year. Whether it's going to that doctor's appointment you should have went to back in March or visiting friends you haven't seen since report card season! Some of us may be working on renos we've been putting off with the house and now, we finally have the time to DO IT.
Do we sleep-in? Totally. Well, I do but not crazily (I'm averaging between 7:30am and 8am as I like to keep a decent routine with my husband's schedule). And of course, we do all of our vacationing in the summer too as again, it's pretty much our only solid time off. And yes, we know it's hot no matter we go at that time of year, more expensive, and more busy (my in-laws remind me all the time in case I haven't noticed yet - bless their souls). But, we don't care. We're going to go regardless. A lot of folks forget us teachers cannot vacation in the middle of September for three weeks or the end of February for a cruise and always appear to be dumbfounded when you tell them this.
Summer vacations for teachers is also a mental break as well. For ten months, every part of our mental stability ends up getting maxed out by June. Not only is it just the teaching, but it's the prep of our lessons, the supervision, the communication, the behaviours, the altercations, the coworkers, the parents, the emails, the phone calls, the meetings, the overall environment, the leadership, etc. after etc. after etc. See why we need two months to recuperate? For myself, I had 64 students to care for and next year, I have 72. Just think about it for a minute.
Despite needing a break from our students, we all seem to manage to come back every September. Everyone has their own reasons, and I think it's fair to say the general agreement is that we love what we do. For me personally, I start missing them! Oh man, do I ever. It usually kicks in about the first week of August and it then leads to me casually beginning my planning for the year. Before you know it, I'm getting excited about setting up the room and going in earlier than scheduled, buy myself a new set of Mr. Sketch scented markers, and hit up Scholar's Choice for cartooned notepads and bulletin board sets. That's when I know I'm refueled and ready to go again.
Now after reading all of that, you may say "I get it" but some will still have the attitude of "it must be nice to have summers off". Well, I have one thing to say to you then: you didn't want to become a teacher and you don't like working with kids.
I did and I do.
