What a Week

I wrote this yesterday in an email to a friend. I realized it would also qualify as a blog entry.
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I have 24 kids in my class. Yesterday 4 were absent, but today all 24 were there. It was LOUD.

I blew up (my words) at about 5 girls that were all standing in the bathroom hallway (that connects the 2 K rooms) pushing and shoving and peeking in on a girl using it, and playing around in general.

I told them in no uncertain terms I was sick and tired of them playing around, acting as though they didn't know how to be in kindergarten. We'd been in kindergarten for 22 days, and they knew better. My voice got softer, but still mean (ie, through clenched teeth) about how dare they create such noice when right over there was another kindergarten room. How dare they disturb them. I made them stand in my room, at the door to the connecting hall and not go into the hall. I felt like I'd let my frustration at the situation bubble over into real feeling, rather than try to keep a calm cool head about it all. Not a great way to start the day. I had to instantly switch gears, and put on my happy face and sing the good morning song and pretend to feel ok even when I wasn't. Eventually I was though.

Blah. I have the PTA volleyball game tonight. I don't really want to go, but mostly because I know there's a mandatory 2 hour training meeting after work tomorrow. I mean, that's leaving school at 8pm, being back at 7am, and then.... not leaving till 5:30. Talk about worn out. And Thursday I have a committee meeting too. Sigh. Maybe next week will be quieter.

I'm really really looking forward to having the 3rd kindergarten teacher hired. That'll bring my class size down to 18 or so.
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To everything that's going on, add the fact that I've caught whatever chest crud's been going around. Maybe that's why it all seems so magnified.