I’ve written about this before, but I enjoy crowing about not hating Mondays.  I certainly enjoy my weekends, and I make much of them in terms of the things I enjoy doing: crossword puzzles, walks, cooking, reading, and listening to music.

But I enjoy Mondays, too, in large part because I enjoy working with the students that I teach.  I live in the town where I work, and I feel fortunate to have known many of my students and their families for several years.  Perhaps I should not be surprised to understand that being in my district for twenty years, I find myself established and respected.   I genuinely enjoy my work.

Respect goes both ways.  I learned early on in my career how to be authoritative and not authoritarian, and students seem to understand that I am determined to do right by them.  I have few, if any difficulties with our students in the classroom or in the hallways.

Ironically, I am an introvert, yet I find myself working with young people so directly and with such intense attention.  I have a difficult time understanding it, but I feel grateful that I am able to do my bit, especially because teachers and mentors as Mr. Deutsch, Mr. Liebfried, Mr. Heckel, Brother Timothy, and Doc Flanagan helped me up the K-to-Twelve ladder.

Sometimes, I leave school on Fridays disappointed that I could not accomplish many of the more perfunctory tasks that I had hoped to carry out before the end of the work week.  Still, I have faith over the weekend that all will carry on smoothly come Monday–and it always does.  My students are not always interested, enthusiastic, motivated, or energetic; however, I must say this for them: they always give my ideas and suggestions a chance.  That is more courtesy than I showed my teachers when I was their age, and I wonder whether I am worthy.

Today was a typical Monday, perhaps a bit more sluggish for having been up until ten the night before, cleaning up after a party my partner and I hosted.  Still, I knew I was walking into a welcoming, congenial environment, conducive to learning and growth for all concerned.  My students do much to maintain this environment, and though I growl at them from time to time, merely for form and ceremony, they take it well, and I take it all keenly to heart.

Photo credit: Tara Winstead of Pexels

I am participating in the Two Writing Teachers March 2024 Slice of Life Challenge.