Let me preface this post by saying that I do love to teach. However, it is most definitely secondary to my family, and I would much rather stay at home with my kids than teach. I can look at it two ways: I hate that I have to work at all (and this is true) or I am lucky that I only have to teach 2 days a week (this is also true). I feel both. 

Anyway, the real reason for my post: the thing I HATE about teaching is that by the time I come home, I have had enough of "cluttery" noise. Just that dim of noise that occurs throughout the day, kids talking in the hall, working together in class, calling me "teacher" (I HATE that - I have a name!), chatter, desks scraping on the floor, lockers slamming shut, etc, etc. All I want to do is snuggle with Jared and Ayda in silence once I get home. But that is not to be. I hate that I get annoyed with the noise my kids make when I get home from a day of teaching. Their noise does not usually bother me, as long as it's not yelling/screaming noise. But after a day in the classroom, Jared's endless questions and comments get on my nerves and I just want Ayda to stop blabbering. That really bothers me, because normally I love hearing them. And I want to love to hear them. I don't know how to solve this problem. If I could just get away for half an hour once I got home, to a place of solitude...alas, Ryan doesn't get home for at least an hour after I do. What to do...

I laid down on the couch after school today and closed my eyes while the kids played. At one point, Jared got my attention to tell me about something he was doing. After a brief conversation, he said, "Go to sleep, Mommy." Bless you, child.