De-Stressing

Today during our planning periods we had an "optional" meeting with a psychiatrist for tips about de-stressing. Teaching is certainly a stressful job and I could see how these meetings could be useful. I'm actually a very laid back and happy person. When I do get stressed or upset by external forces, I tend to step back and tell myself that no one can "steal my joy" or control how I feel.

I went to the "session" mostly to show support and hopefully to gain a few tips. I was the only one to show up during my planning time. It turned out to be a bit of a "venting" session. Seeing as I really don't have much to vent (I do that here and at happy hour) I just answered her questions about school environment and overall feelings around the campus.

I was honest and told her that I truly don't have very many issues. I told her I try to not take anything personally and that usually works for me. Apparently, there are many others feeling stress because of negativity in our building. I think she is going to try to get more positives and fun things to happen at our school which would, of course, be great.

Later that same day...
I go to pick my students up from lunch. I'm about 5 minutes early so I just talk to the kids for a bit. I realize there are no TA's in the cafeteria and it's 2 minutes until we leave for recess. None of the children have taken their trays to the trash. We have 200 kids in there and I know it's going to be chaos very soon. I tell my kids to stand up and take their trash and trays. I turn around and a TA is yelling at me. Here is the conversation.

TA: "So, I GUESS we are ALL just DISMISSING our OWN kids NOW!"
Me: "No one was in here."
TA: "I WAS in HERE! YOU SAW ME!"
Me: "No, you were not in here."

Side note- another TA had gone to get them all lunch from Applebees (not their lunch time, lunch duty) and the custodian and TA's were in the hallway paying her.

TA: "I GUESS I will just STAY in one SPOT!"
Me: "Un-freakin-believable!"

All of this in front of my student teacher and students. Very unprofessional and rude. I immediately went to inform an administrator. This TA was actually suspended for 3 days for yelling at an assistant principal. Some nerve.

She's obviously a VERY unhappy person in the wrong profession. It made me think about what I said to the psychiatrist. I had to take a few minutes and relax and realize that this woman can not and will not "steal my joy" or control how I feel.

Here's to a fantastic tomorrow!