I am not, but I wanted to throw out some encouragement. Ya done good. Ya got some ways to go, but ya done good. You can handle these last weeks and the transition ahead. I have faith in you.

Do that closing do, muji!

No, I wish I were. I'm proud of you that you are. And just Don't Think until you get to the day before classes start. Then just think about what you're going to wear. I do No Thoughts about such things. If I start to think about it, I just stop myself. I'm sending you all kinds of good feelings and thouhts. You're going to be fine, I believe. After the school year, you'll think about not having a set schedule. Not now. I wish you all the best. You are my hero. I'm unable to work at this time. Big Hug, for whenever you need it. :)

I am a teacher and I am looking forward to the relaxing days of summer. I do isolate more, but there are so many things at home that I never have time to do that have waited until summer. I can't wait, especially to sleep later each day!!!!!

Looking at this from my current perspective (student) it feels like things are wrapping up for me. At this point, we have either learned it or we haven't.

For you I think the "crunch" at the end of the term looks different; students have or have not done their work- now it is yours to assess the daylights out of it. As much as students complain about finals etc., I always felt as a teacher the real work of wrapping stuff up was on me. I hope for you that you have a really streamlined way of doing that. Work smart not hard...

The summer uptick in my work has already begun. Many weeks I will work over the weekend (at least some portion of). So the decision not to do a compressed version of A&P II is looking like the only sane choice. For me what I need to remember is, it took me this long to figure out what I want to do when I grow up- I don't want to jeopardize it by racing through and not taking the time to do good work along the way.

So we have a different perspective for sure. Having taught though, when anyone starts on the topic of "teachers have the summer off- blah blah blah" my first thought is "Teachers need the summer off so they can sustain the school year."

I am really glad to hear that the prospects for you working through this phase look good. We all have to be smart about picking and choosing what we take on so we can stay the course.

Thanks, everybody. A ways to go, as arfie says, but come a ways, too. And I'm really grateful. Thanks, Milla, I'll try not to overthink it--I know what you mean by that. HBE, yes to sleeping in!!!! I'm going to love that, too. Guayaba, hope things wrap up well for you. I'll be teaching summer school, but just one course. Hope yours is looking good from where we are now.

Blessings, all!

I was an art teacher for many years. Loved it, Miss it. Now physically disabled, close to 50 and just found out about my husband's betrayals & secret life. I'm weak too....feel like I'm just surviving right now.

Clinging to my faith, but disgusted about how husband used religion to cover up his flaws. We're not perfect, no one is, but he sure wanted everyone to think that. And still does, even after I've discovered all this. SO many secrets.

My future is so unsure.

Thanks for sharing, Diane. Sounds like being close to 50 was one of the toughest periods in your life. I'm sorry that happened to you. For me it was at age 52. All in one year, I found out I had a serious kidney disease that made it hard to work, was laid off at work (I was a teacher) after just one year back teaching (I didn't have tenure.). Then my fiance' became frustrated with how kidney disease slowed me down so she broke off our engagement.

I'm happy to report that I'm 54 now and doing much better. I don't have another fiance' and am not looking. But I've gotten another teaching job, done my best at it, and got hired again two years in a row. Being that functional is a real blessing. I know you miss it, and I would, too.