SCHOOL'S OPEN - PART 2

I thought I would have to wait until September.  Teachers usually don't have a need to be away from their classes during the first couple of weeks of class.  But when that teacher is a mom with a college freshman, lucky for me, she needs a sub so she can move her daughter into her dorm.  Thus, I had my first subbing assignment of the year.  It was in high school history - 2 classes of history of the Middle Ages and 2 classes of American History.

It was every bit of fun that I thought it would be.  I knew almost all the kids from prior years.  A couple of them even remembered that I don't permit those who say "can I go," instead of "may I go" to the restroom to go anywhere until they rephrase their question.  And I learned that saying the word "toilet" can really bring down the house with laughter.

Interestingly, the night before, I didn't want to go.  I haven't wanted to go to a lot of places lately.  But I committed, so I had to go.

That morning, when I arrived at school, I headed straight to the coffee house across the street and visited with people I had not seen since May.  It made me smile.  Next, I went to my classroom for the day, found it was locked and then found one of the math teachers to lend me her key.  We chatted - she knows all of my kids - and, again, I smiled.  Then I went down to the teachers' lounge where one of the English teachers who I've known since our daughters were in kindergarten together (about 17 years ago) greeted me with a big smile and an even bigger hug.  I returned both.  It was good to see him.  Finally, I went upstairs to review my sub notes one more time and saw the history teacher whose room is right next door.  I got a big greeting from him.  He asked about my son.  His son and mine were high school friends.   I smiled for the fourth time and it wasn't even 8:00 yet.

I smiled throughout the day, as students discussed the categorization of shoes and as I victoriously started the movie in the VCR with minimal fumbling.  Several students reminded me of some trouble I had last year with starting a movie.  It took half of the class time.  We had a good laugh about it.

It was a great day.  I didn't have to try to lift my mood.  I just had to put myself in the right location and the environment and the people did it for me.