• R.D.,  Teaching

    Power Struggles

    I must admit that I am a control freak.  I have learned, in certain areas of my life, to let go of that a bit.  Kindergarten, for example, is no place for someone who seeks to control. The past eight years would have driven me insane had I not let go of my need to control everything.  Have you ever spent time in a class of 4-6 year olds in August? There is no controlling that. In my personal life, however, I have always sought control.  Some of my greatest accomplishments have been a direct result of this trait – earning two bachelor’s degrees, running a marathon.  I like to…

  • R.D.,  Teaching

    I Can’t Even

    I can’t do it.  I just can’t. Not right now.  I’ve tried, but it is just not in me right now.  What am I struggling with? School. I’ve taught kindergarten for eight years and this is the FIRST time that, at this point in the summer, my classroom has not been re-organized and my next year plans have not been started.  I haven’t even cleaned out my binder yet. I “tore down” my room according to my school’s policy, took my shit home and haven’t looked back. I am one solid month into summer and I’ve done almost nothing. I did weed through a TON of emails a few weeks…

  • R.D.,  Teaching

    I’m Comin’ Out!

    I’m coming out of the closet.  No, I’m not gay. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.)  I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. There! It’s out there. I have not been “in the closet” long; my initial diagnosis came on February 2nd, 2018. I am not ashamed of my diagnosis.  I just haven’t been in a place where I wanted to talk about it. This is partly because the diagnosis process has been a roller coaster ride. I usually LOVE roller coasters. This one? Not so much. There were some very scary low points in the past few months.  Moments of darkness where I felt completely alone and there have been high…