Teacher Brain in May: 15 Thoughts I Had Today Before 8am
It’s May. I’m a teacher. I’m a mom. And I’m running on equal parts caffeine and chaos.
By 8am this morning, I had already forgot to put on deodorant, left my lunch at home, spilled coffee on my dress, and wondered why field trips, daycare graduation, family visits, and report card and READ Plan deadlines all seem to collide in the final weeks of school.
Here are 15 actual thoughts that ran through my head before 8am:
- “Wait… is today the field trip or daycare graduation?”
I should really make one of those color-coordinated family calendars. But I won’t.
- “I definitely left my lunch in the fridge… again.”
But I did remember diapers, wipes, and both snow clothes and sun hats for daycare— for this ridiculous Colorado weather. So there’s that.
- “Did I actually pack the diapers or just think about packing them?”
Somewhere, a daycare teacher is silently judging me. Better call Zach to double-check.
- “Why is there coffee on my dress and my steering wheel?”
Hi, it’s me. I’m the problem, it’s me.
- “I need to progress monitor my red kids today for DIBELS.”
I’ve been meaning to organize that folder of word lists and passages all year. I’ll do it this summer. Maybe.
- “All the good summer camps are either full or too expensive.”
Is she going to remember not going to dance camp when she was 5? Or just bring it up in therapy in 20 years?
- “When even is the deadline for READ Plans?”
Asking for a friend. That friend is me.
- “Did I just tell someone I would tutor their child this summer when I decided I don’t have time for that anymore?”
Why do I do these things to myself.
- “OMG field trip permission forms.”
Put it in your reminders right now or you’ll be the only one going.
- “Daycare is closed for a full week in May?!”
That feels like a personal attack. But also those teachers probably deserve a break more than I do.
- “I still need a gift for the daycare teachers for appreciation week.”
Why don’t we have a Target in our town?!
- “Should I just eat the applesauce pouch I found in my car?”
Desperate times.
- “Do I have anything planned for math today?”
Time to wing it…again. Thank god for task cards.
- “How many days left? Not that I’m counting…”
Okay fine. I’m definitely counting. Daily.
- “Do I really have to be a functioning adult today?”
Yes. Unfortunately, yes.
And yet… somehow, we always figure it out. One permission slip, one coffee spill, one applesauce pouch at a time. If you’re also hanging on by a thread and in the home stretch, you’re not alone. We’ve got this… kind of. Now go get yourself a coffee.
Let’s not lose our minds together,
Tori
