AT THE END OF A LONG DAY

What can you do when tiredness catches up with you at the end of a long eight – class day is coming to an end and as the second bell rings what comes out of the mouths of your adorable students is “we do not want to do that”?

The first thing you should do is take a deep breath. Then take as many deep breaths as you need to so that you calm the bitch that lives in you down. (All right, so she only lives inside of me. Let´s call her B.T.M. from now on).

The second thing you do is calmly convince them of the importance of the activity and why you have planned it. However, the B.T.M. keeps barking in your head about who do they think they are to know what they want to be done in a classroom? Tell them to go off to college for four years and get a license to teach. Tell them to walk into a classroom 200 days per year and put up with children of all ages for 30 years. Tell them that after they have done all of this, then they can decide what can be done in a classroom. Nonetheless, calmly and taking deep breaths to stop the barking, you once again, explain that you know they are tired and so are you, however, the activity will be beneficial for their learning and time will fly by; before they know it, the bell will have rung and it´s homeward bound.

Meanwhile B.T.M. wants to tell them that we do not have to do what has been planned and that she really could give a hoot to whatever their future will be like. But that is not what comes out as she opens her lips. The teacher who has been in the classroom for 30-years gives in and asks them what they would like to do instead and tries to come to an agreement; each one going half way. They do a little of what was planned and the teacher does a little of what they would like to do, which most of the time is play a game.

Guess that there is a time to stop, a time to retire, perhaps this is the time. With this thought B.T.M. reminds me to blame it on the hormones. They are teenagers and their hormones are fitting into place and you are going through menopause, therefore, your hormones are falling out of place. Guess that in the end we are just fighting the same battle. 

PS. Tips on reducing stress:

1.   Take care of yourself. Eat well, sleep enough and exercise.

2.   When you feel like doing something you wouldn't normally do, think twice before you do it.

3.   Your hormones are very hard to control, you should be happy if you even try because it's a very tough business to get into. If necessary, see a doctor for help.

4.   Try to stay calm. If you're worried about something or someone, talk about it to someone, like a parent, sibling, friend, teacher or even a professional. Going to a psychologist doesn’t mean you are nuts.

5.   Don't do anything stupid.

6.   Try carrying a stress ball of some kind.

7.   Most importantly, learn to say NO. Not only to say it, but to mean it.

(Written March 27, 2014)Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.

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