Rant: Teachers are superheros and don't you dare belittle them!

My dear cousin and fellow blog writer Bea (Radpunzel Check it out. It will change your life if you're brave enough to be introspective.) shared the following link, and of course I just have to add my two cents!

Manda Carpenter: A Public Letter to the Guys I Heard Talking About Their "Teacher Friend."

This post is SO TRUE! I get so many comments about being "off" in the summers and the other "breaks" I get during the school year. And I normally patiently try to explain to people how much work I do on these "breaks" and how much more work I do than most of them during the week, but sometimes I'm just so exhausted from my intense occupation that I just laugh it off. It honestly doesn't bother me though, because I know I've chosen this profession (and could never do anything else in the world!!!), and I know that most people couldn't handle my job. ;-)  I've chosen a busy life, so it doesn't get under my skin when I hear people complain they have one thing to do at home on a given night, when the only downtime I have all week is the half hour it will take me to eat dinner. (That is presently false though, I've gotten better at scheduling Q-time and me-time.) I know I've chosen a career that requires constant attention for 7 hours and then hours more of work at home; I know I've chosen a career where I spend around $800 a year on supplies for my classroom and materials for projects trying to make learning fun for my kiddos. And it's so worth it, because I am grinning from ear to ear every moment of my hectic job, and I'm making a damn difference in the world!

I just want to send a huge shout out to all my supportive friends who understand my job, who understand how important it is to me and why I can never hang out on weeknights, and don't mind if I grade papers while we hang out all Saturday watching football.

And she mentioned the toll on her marriage. You guys, I know SO MANY fellow teachers whose marriages have been strained because of the extensive toll teaching requires. So. many. Teaching easily consumes one's life. I have had to consciously make sure Q is always my first priority, and make sure I spend quality time with him. I am also very blessed that he understands how vital teaching like a super woman is to me, and supports me so much in that endeavor.

So to my fellow educators, be proud! Because you are doing the most noble job there is on this planet.

(I'm not biased or anything.)