I LOVE teaching preschool and pre-k. I love it more than anything. I spend weeks planning and preparing for each lesson. I do my best to always go above and beyond…to always be patient and understanding…to do enough of the prep that my aides don’t want to quit…I ALWAYS say ‘Thank You’ at the end of each day…I’m ‘Super-Teacher’ almost every day!
Right now…I’m struggling.
I’m TIRED. I am 51 years old. I get up very early…4:45-5:30 ish each day. I work out 4 days a week, (hard) I don’t eat sweets, dairy, corn, or fried foods. I’m thin, healthy, active, and well-rested.
Why am I so tired?
Every day I feel completely exhausted by the end of the day. I fall asleep on the couch each night by 7:30 at the latest, only to drag myself off the couch 2 hours later to go to bed. I’m ‘on’ and energetic during the day. I’m excited to see the kids, happy to be with them, and ready to handle whatever they toss my way. I’m patient with behavior problems, calm in the midst of chaos, pleasant to everyone I work with. In fact I love the people I work with. They are some of my dearest friends, I have nothing but love and respect for each one of them. I’m lucky.
I come home and I try to get some ‘house’ things done…not too many, I don’t have the energy. I work on planning for the next week and my Teachers Pay Teachers products. I’d love to spend more time on blogging and social media to market my products, as well as posting some of my products to other sites…but I have nothing left.
All day I plan out things I want to do when I get home. I start out with such energy and enthusiasm…and I end with defeat and exhaustion.
This is no way to live.
I know that teaching 35 little children is tough and taxing. I have 17 3-4 year-olds in the morning…then 18 4-5 year-olds in the afternoon. They love me, they are cute, funny, fun to be with…I love them right back. But…I’m so tired! There are days I feel like no one but my co-workers understand what it’s like for me.
I don’t sit at a desk, I don’t get to go to the bathroom when I want, eat when I want, chat with co-workers when I want, or even take a mental break and zone out for a few minutes. I have to be aware of what is going on around me all the time.
This year I saved a child’s life who was choking at snack time…there were a few moments where I thought she wasn’t ever going to breathe. It was terrifying! It happened at the end of that class time. I had my lunch and had to go right back to teaching my next class. I was traumatized as much as the child, and I don’t think anyone realizes. Now I can’t even chill out while the kids have snack-I’m even MORE hyper vigilant!
I get paid very little, which is fine because I have a husband with a big job. I don’t have to work. I want to work because I love it. I don’t have the stress of trying to make ends meet on my paltry salary…plus I do pretty well on TPT. So I guess that is fine.
So what on earth is my problem?
I’m going to check in each week with different things I am going to try to get my energy up after the school day…I hope I find some answers and some things that work. I want to have a full and happy life. I just know that I can’t with this level of fatigue.
Is this normal amongst preschool teachers? I don’t know if anyone will read this and weigh in…but I hope so. I want to feel like I’m not alone, and I’d love to hear what other people do to get over this overwhelming tiredness.
