Good morning! The alarm woke me up, which usually doesn’t happen- I normally wake up early on my own.  I am not sure why, but I find June to be a bit of a stressful month.  I always think it should be smooth sailing, the school year is nearly over; summer, oh summer, lies ahead; and I am on top of the end-of-year checklist that will allow the secretary to place that last check in my hand.

 I think part of it is that I am already in summer mode,-staying up later, going out on school nights with friends.   June is also the month of the grand finale competition for our fifth grade ballroom dance team, and our practices are amped up to intense daily sessions and performances at senior centers to prepare the kids for the big day. 

Probably, though, the stress comes from the fact that another school year is ending.  It’s bittersweet as I say goodbye to the little ones who came through my classroom door each day.  I have spent my mornings planning for them,  my days watching them grow, and my evenings worried about the ones who don’t.   Even after 29 years of teaching, the emotions have not changed one bit. If anything, having raised three children to adulthood has made me realize how precious each minute of each day is for each of these little ones- you cannot get a minute of it back.  So off I go this morning, a bit tired,  more than a bit anxious and completely excited to spend our last half day together.