Living in Egypt , near denial... or I'm ready to quit

[Tri Girl]

I see all the kids because we are departmentalized (which I'm discovering I don't like). I teach SS to all the 5th graders, and Language Arts to my homeroom only. It has benefits (less preps), but far more drawbacks (104 papers a day to grade- everyday, 104 parents to deal with, 104 problems).
Today I had the kid who started crying uncontrollably because he couldn't think of what to write for his essay (even tho we spent 20 min. brainstorming together), the kid who sat and stared at me with a death glare then refused to answer me and just rolled his eyes, the kid who I have to remind every 30 seconds to get back on task and work (he writes one sentence every 30 minutes), and the kid who threw his chair because I apparently was asking something ridiculous of him: to do his work. Grrrrrr.... (ok- enough griping- I'm sorry).

They were small glasses if it makes you feel any better about my blooming alcoholism. I'm normally someone who works out all the time, but since school has started I've only worked out 2 days. That's it. I have absolutely no mental or physical energy when I get home. I'm so drained from the day. I know that's the perfect time to blow off some steam, but it's just not happening. I can't even muster the focus it takes to go for a run or walk (let alone have the mental focus to ride). I usually just zone out in front of the tv or read a book to escape my world.

One quarter down, 3 to go. At least it's not the first day of school...

And Martha Stewart? Hey- I've got one, too. She's Nationally Board Certified and thinks it's the best thing ever, and tells you all the time. Big deal. The teacher across the hall from me is best friends with the principal, and a 10 year old at heart. No matter what I say, she goes and tells on me. She's always trying to bait me into saying things and I always come back with the opposite of what she's wanting to hear. It makes her so mad, and I'm so evil that I love it.