Typical Tuesday

5:30 a.m. PDaddy & Jack head to the Life Center to swim. This a.m. they both did 32 laps.

6:30 a.m. We're in various stages of showers, baths, waffles, and underwear.

6:55 a.m. I've left the house, or I'm late. Usually the latter.

7:25 a.m. Me and the three arrive at school (on Mondays I have to be there before 7:25. That is just another reason to hate Monday.)

7:45 a.m. I walk (okay, RUN) Sophy to class. Sam trails close behind pretending not to know us. Jack has gone several minutes before with another 4th grader whose mom teaches with me.

7:55 a.m. First bell rings. Stand at my door and greet my first class. 18 sixth grade boys. Not one girl in the bunch. They are awesome! Best class of the day, and that is not sarcasm. I love them!

8:45 a.m. Another bell. 35 minutes of conference period. Notice I didn't pretend like this time off involves me actually being 'free.' Busiest time of the day.

9:34 a.m. Third bell of the day and here come 20 kids that just left PE. The aromas are out of this world.

10:33 a.m. Fourth bell. This time it's 20 slightly less aromatic sixth graders.

11:24 a.m. Fifth bell and 19 seventh graders that make me long for the seventh level of Hell arrive with one purpose in mind. Guess what it is, and I'll give you a hint. It ain't learning. And yes, ain't IS a word in Texas.

1:04 p.m. Sixth bell and oh joy of joys!! it's lunch time. Today's menu: corn dogs. Slurp.

1:31 p.m. The lunch fest is over. Here come 15 seventh graders of which 13 are boys.

2:24 p.m. 20 more. They just keep coming.

3:10 p.m. My children arrive in my classroom. With my other 20 children. Good times. Good times.

3:15 p.m. All but 3 of those children go home.

3:16 p.m. Sprint to the copy room to get in line first for the copy machine, get lesson on board for the next day, clean desk tops, empty trash cans, sweep floor, spray Lysol, grade papers, call parents, make sure my children stay in my classroom and off of the intercom.

3:45 p.m. RUN to the car. We're FREE! We're FREE!!

4:20 p.m. Arrive at home. Start homework X's three. Snacks X's three.

5:00 p.m. Supper

5:30 p.m. Change clothes. Head to gym class.

6:00 p.m. Gym Class

7:15 p.m. Back home. Finish any homework left floating before supper, bath time, snacks.

8:00 p.m. Brush teeth, read, say prayers, get up and down 4 times for peeing and other nonsense. This can last for 10 minutes or 45, depending on Sam.

8:30 p.m. Finally sit down for the first time all day. Tivo! A good book! A Chips Ahoy chocolate chip, coconut cookie. Ahhh.

8:35 p.m. Remember the blue jeans are in the dryer that the boys want to wear. Off to fold laundry.

9:20 p.m. Where was I? Oh yes, the cookie..

10:00 p.m. Soak in boiling hot water for 20 minutes.

10:30 p.m.-midnight: Reading in my bed.

Wake up tomorrow, do it all over!
9:30 p.m.