The hallway is quiet. The teacher unlocks her classroom

The hallway is quiet. The teacher unlocks her classroom door and thinks to herself . . .

7 more weeks. I can do this. I can! There is so much left to get to. I’m going to have to make every minute count. No days “off.” I’m going to have to use every second to make sure those kids are ready for the next grade. I don’t want them going on with holes in their understanding. Wow . . . I’ve got so much to do in only seven weeks, and some of that will be interrupted by meetings, PD, testing, and a mountain of end-of-year paperwork. Can I really do this, and do it right? I can do this. Okay. 7 more weeks . . .

Down the hall, another teacher sits at her desk and gazes around her classroom. She thinks to herself . . .

7 more weeks. 25 years of being an educator, and now it all comes down to 7 more weeks. This room has held my career within its walls. It’s seen the tears, the frustration, the laughter, the wonder, and the joy. It’s been a stage for miracles. That one boy—wow–I thought he’d never start reading, and then, boom! One day, the light came on and he was reading everything he could get his hands on! And then, I taught his son years later, and Jenny’s boy, too. I wonder if those kids remember me? I wonder if they know how much I loved teaching them? How they helped me, REALLY helped me, through that year when my life was upside down? I’m tired. I’m ready for retirement, but goodness–I will miss this room. These kids. I will miss standing at my door and getting hugs and good morning smiles each day. I’ve done it for 25 years, and now I have just 7 more weeks . . .

Next door, another teacher turns on her computer and sighs to herself . . .

7 more weeks. If I can just get through the next 7 weeks, I will be free of this place, at least for the summer. Free of the pressure. Free of the frustration of giving, giving, giving, and seeing nothing gained. I wonder if that one had her medicine before she got on the bus this morning? Because there is no way I can fight through 7 more weeks of her all day long. I need some help. I’m so burnt-out. Let’s see, I’ve covered all of my standards, so I’m going to coast through these next weeks and make them go as fast as I can . . . ugh, 7 more weeks.

Across the hall, a teacher thinks to herself as she posts the day’s assignment . . .

7 more weeks. I’m going to miss these kiddos. All of them. Yes, all of them! I hope I’ve done what they need every day. I hope I’ve shown them how much I love them! I hope that this one ate dinner last night, or he’s going to be starving this morning. I’ll need to make sure he eats breakfast either way. I hope that this one got some shoes that didn’t have a hole on the top. Shoot! I should have gotten her some while we were on break . . . why didn’t I remember that? Well, I still have 7 weeks to help these kids. I can do a lot in 7 weeks . . .

And on the bus, a child solemnly stares out the window and thinks . . .

7 more weeks. That’s all I get. Only 7 more weeks to call that teacher mine. I only get 7 more weeks to see her smiling at me, to tell her about my days at home, to smell her lotion. I only get 7 more weeks to get some good food for lunch and breakfast, for her to give me a snack. I’m glad she doesn’t get mad at me for not having a snack. I only get 7 more weeks to listen to her read stories. I like her voice. It’s never too loud or too mean. I only get to listen to her for 7 more weeks. I wish we could come to school every day, even on the weekends. Even in the summer. And I wish she could be my teacher all the time. But that’s not how it works. I get 7 more weeks. That’s not very long.

There are a lot of ways to look at 7 more weeks. How can we make it count?

Shared with permission from Paige Givens

**Friends! We have so many cute end-of-year gifts for teachers in the Her View Shop. Check them out here! https://herviewfromhome.com/product-category/so-god-made-a/teacher/

Related Posts

The Secret Barbecue That Saved My Son’s Wedding

My son’s bride imposed a strictly vegan menu for the wedding. She was passionate about her lifestyle, and while I respected her choices, she didn’t leave room…

Does anyone know why there’s this extra chain hanging down at the back of a tanker truck?

If you’ve ever driven behind a fuel tanker, you may have noticed a short chain dragging along the pavement near the rear of the truck. At first…

Gutfeld Clashes With Tarlov Over ‘Both Sides’ Argument on Kirk Suspect

Tensions flared on Fox News’ The Five after co-host Greg Gutfeld forcefully rejected Jessica Tarlov’s attempt to frame political violence as a “both sides” issue in the…

This product poses a risk to bones and many people consume it daily.

In today’s fast-paced world, bottled iced coffee has quickly become a staple for many seeking a convenient caffeine fix. It’s tasty, portable, and provides a refreshing energy…

What It Means When You See a Spider in Your Home: Spiritual Signs and Hidden Messages

We’ve all had that moment — spotting a spider quietly sitting in a corner, weaving its web, or crawling across the ceiling like it owns the place….

10 minutes ago / Family announced the sad news of Legend Clint Eastwood / Farewell in tears..

After achieving success in the Western TV series Rawhide, Eastwood rose to international fame with his role as the “Man with No Name” in Sergio Leone’s Dollars…