Labour Day - a key day

 For thirty some odd years, Labour Day has been a poignant day for me. As a teacher, it represented everything from excitement, dread, regret, and a colossal gearing up and organization of a great number of other human beings.

Many years felt like summer had slipped away without really having enough enjoyment and relaxation. This was always due to our self-imposed routine of using July and August to accomplish projects that we were just too exhausted to complete during the school year. As you know, if you are a regular reader, husband is not afraid to tackle anything and will never hire anyone to do something that he feels he can do himself. That meant that I was chief cook and bottle washer ( and child wrangler and yard worker and cleaner upper after the project…). We are well aware that we created our own hell with this practice and ironically we still fall into this behaviour even though husband is fully retired from teaching and I pick and choose when I want to work.

Of course, there was always the excitement, anticipation, and general inability to sleep on the night of Labour Day ( just like the students themselves). Some years were better or worse than others depending on the grade I was teaching or the group of students I was getting or the administrator I was working under.

As well, as a mom of two, it was the usual getting my daughter and son ready to go back to school- new school supplies, new clothes, trying to back up bed times and waking times, and probably a hair cut or two thrown in there. Of course there was less of this as they got older, but then it was moving into dorm rooms or rental houses and all that entailed. 

This year, believe it or not, I’m already booked to work on the Thursday and Friday of this first week of school. Normally I wouldn’t touch the first week with a ten foot pole. Lord no, let their regular teacher get them settled and into some kind of routine before I step foot into a classroom!! However, these two days will be for wonderful teacher for whom I’ve filled in before and she will undoubtedly have everything planned to perfection, so I’m confident it will go smoothly. ( or not, but I can handle anything for two days).

The day here is sporting a brilliant blue sky and wispy clouds. The breeze is a bit cool. I sat in the sunshine and finished an Ann Granger book. But I’m still feeling some of those same old Labour Day feelings. Husband even said yesterday that he had had a “ school dream” which I think perhaps only teachers can understand. I hope I can sleep well tonight.