When I was a child, the best day of the entire year would be Christmas Day. I would count down the days leading up to it for weeks in advance, growing more and more excited as time passed. The night before, on Christmas Eve, I would be desperate to go to sleep so that I could wake up early, but I was so worked up that I often counted sheep until the early hours of the morning and would wake up every half an hour after that.
As an adult, today is my Christmas Day. It’s the final day of the school year, we said goodbye to the students for six glorious weeks and wished the staff that are leaving the best of luck for the future. And then, in a dignified and mature manner, I shot out of the school like a rat up a drainpipe and joined my friend in the pub.
I’ve worked in the British education system for eight years now, and this has been the toughest academic year I have ever experienced. I like my job, and I’m lucky to work in an excellent school with staff and students that I enjoy spending time with. However, in the last year the changes in curriculum and the growth of the number of courses and students at my school have meant that my workload has almost doubled. In my personal life, I have moved house twice, my elderly cat died, I was in hospital for a week and off work for a further five and another of my cats was diagnosed with diabetes, requiring twice daily injections at 6am and 6pm. It’s been stressful, and I am feeling physically and mentally exhausted.
However, this particular day and the weekend that follows is the one weekend of the year where I do absolutely nothing and don’t feel guilty about it. Of course, I have a mountain of work that needs to be completed over the summer, both in my personal and professional life, but for this one weekend I am going to relax, put my feet up and just breathe.
It’s the best present I could ever wish for.
You can also find me on Twitter and Tumblr @suzie81blog
Enjoy! You have certainly earned some serious time off. I know you’re rethinking your career plans ……. anything new?
No not yet – I’m lucky to work in a good school so I’m not in a massive rush, but if an opportunity presents itself then you never know!
anyone who thinks teachers have it easy with long holidays are sadly deluded….enjoy your break…
Absolutely! Thank you very much!
Enjoy, Suzie!
Thanks Mer! Looking forward to catching up with you guys!
Reblogged this on The Echo Chamber.
Enjoy your time off! You sound like you deserve a bit of ”me time”
Rebecca xxx
Thank you! After this year, it has been an extremely welcome break!
Enjoy your vacation, Suzie!
Thanks TD!
Enjoy! I can totally relate to having an extremely difficult year.
Thank you! I’m looking forward to having a bit of time to catch up on the blog! I’m sorry you’ve had a hard time…
Enjoy your break and your blog time. We all deserve to do precisely what we want to do when we’re on our own time with few commitments.
Some free time to kickstart the fitness programme?
Definitely! Prepare for lots of repetitive posts!
You take some rest for yourself, you deserve it!
Thanks Martha!
I taught for many years and yes, that Friday night at the beginning of the holidays was bliss. Enjoy.
Haha! Bliss is the perfect word for it! Thank you Anne!
Enjoy this 6 week break. You’ve earned it!
Thank you very much Sharon!
Merry Christmas!
Haha! Thanks Austin!
Awesome, Suzie! I hope you get to enjoy a bit of down time!
Thanks so much Kaela!
Enjoy your time off! I know someone else who will be doing nothing else this weekend also 😉
I can’t imagine who that is?! 😉 I haven’t seen him smile as much as he did yesterday! Hope you’re well Kirsty!
Relax and enjoy!
Thanks Tina!
A well deserved break 🙂
Absolutely! Thanks Alex!