The end of the year is in sight and we are all feeling overwhelmed and stressed. There just is not enough time to get it all done!! So let me tell you how I have spent my last 3 weeks counting down to the end of the year with 3 more weeks to go…

I have spent it doing NONE OF THE ANDS!!!

What does that mean??

I have spent my last 3 weekends enjoying family time. Just family time. NOT family time AND:

• prepping for next week in my classroom, and
• answering parent emails, and
• surfing TPT for new classroom ideas, and
• searching Pinterest for new classroom ideas, and
• scrolling through Instagram, and
• cutting, laminating, cutting again, and
• writing IEPs, and
• thinking about what needs to be done in my classroom (mostly), and
• writing lists of ideas for next school year to prep over summer, and
• STRESSING ABOUT MY CLASSROOM

What I am coming to realize is that there is always work that needs to be done for my classroom and my kiddos, but that I have my own my own family and my own biological children who are growing like weeds and they need me too, in the present, not juggling their wants and needs with those of my classroom. So is my stress level better during the school week? Maybe, maybe not!! Do I feel more rested Monday morning, perhaps a little? But I am really enjoying my weekends with my family and if I had any doubts about this choice that I am making, it was clearly illustrated how I am making the correct one with effort and time put into “appreciating” me during Teacher Appreciation Week!  Is saying a simple ‘Thank You’ really that hard?!…and no giving me a block of Big-Box-Store Kleenex that was needed back in January and a bottle of hand-sanitizer (becoming an annual tradition from my parents…a biproduct of having the same kids multiple years in a row) do not say thank you! They say you don’t need a day off, even if you sick, so don’t get sick!!

So fellow teachers, embrace the power of NONE of the ANDS and take back your weekends! I know I will be enjoying the sunshine, a little wine, good food and good laughs…with my family!