Tag: self care

Blessed

Blessed

by suzannamoberg ♥ 1 Comment

At this point, I think I start every blog post with an apology for my prolonged absence (this time seven months – oops!). I suppose I should add “be better about updating the blog!” to my list of resolutions for this next year!

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When I started this blog, I had a lot of big plans and visions for what this space was going to be. I wondered if I might create a space to share fun stories from my classroom or unique lesson plans that I had created, a place to give advice or impart wisdom, or maybe a way to connect with other educators (past, present, or future). It’s turned into a blog for…well…I’m not quite sure. A little bit of sharing stories, a little bit of useful advice (or, at least, advice I hope has been useful), and maybe a little bit of connecting?!

I was just looking over my posts from these last three years of blogging and I realized that, in the end, this space has really become more of a haven for me – a safe space to share my fears, trials, triumphs, struggles, successes, adventures, and everything in between. In my first two years of teaching, it seemed that I needed more of that safe space (listen, it was a stressful time okay?!). But these past two years have been…well…different.

Honestly, I feel like I just haven’t had as much to write or share these last few months. My job is fantastic. I love my school, I love my students, and I love this career that I’m blessed to be a part of. I think it’s time, then, for this space to change a little bit – goodness knows I’ve changed these past years!

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Last year in December I was getting ready to turn 25. This, at the time, felt like a really big deal to me. I watched as many of my friends turned 24 and 25 and had some of the biggest years of their lives: engagements, marriages, houses, pregnancies, babies – you name it. I couldn’t help but compare those experiences to my own life (spoiler alert: I don’t have any of the things from the previously mentioned list). As I neared my 25th birthday, I truly felt like I was failing – obviously I must be doing something wrong to be so far behind, right?

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Let me tell you this: I could not have possibly been more wrong. Every day of year 25 proved to me that I was exactly where I needed to be.  

I just turned 26 and I’m not sure I’ve ever been more excited for a birthday or a new year.

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So it’s time for a little blog change. One that reflects not only the trials and struggles that I have faced/will face, but one that also celebrates all of the wonderful and exciting things that are happening – not only in my life as a teacher (which is a pretty great life!), but just in this pretty great life in general.

I’ve shared in past blog posts about my “theme song” that I’ve chosen the last few years (one year was an anthem to encourage me through my difficult days, another year was an anthem for celebration, etc.). This year, I’ve chosen a song to serve as a reminder of how far I’ve come and how blessed I am. I “rang in” my first day as a 26-year-old by dancing around my living room with my family and blasting “I’m So Blessed” by Cain. “I’m so blessed, I’m so blessed / Got this heartbeat in my chest / No, it doesn’t matter about the rest / If I got You Lord, I’m so blessed” – Amen!!

The lyrics are true – I am so blessed! Blessed to have a blog post space to have served as a haven for me in my darkest days. Blessed to be part of a career that I love. Blessed to have another year for learning and growing and laughing and loving. Blessed to have you, whoever you are, reading this post.

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Cheers to another year, to new resolutions (like updating this space more regularly!), and to another year of blessings. Here I come 2024!

Cheers To Us

Cheers To Us

by suzannamoberg ♥ 2 Comments

Would you look at that! Another day, another blog post starting with an apology for my seven-month-long blog hiatus!

If I were following my usual blog post template, this paragraph would start with my generic explanation of how crazy life has been, how busy I’ve been, and why I’ve been neglecting to post for a while.

And while that is true, life has been crazy and I have been busy, I’m feeling a little wild today, so let’s skip that part 😉

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Instead, we’ll jump right to the 7-month recap. From November to May, here’s all you need to know: I DID IT.

I finished my second year of teaching.

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It actually feels surreal to say that – I can’t believe it!

These last two years have been the hardest years of my life. I realize that sounds dramatic, and in some ways it maybe is, but truly. I have never cried, stressed, doubted myself, or panicked more than I did this last two years.

In two years, I:

  • taught all online classes for a semester
  • taught hybrid classes for a semester
  • taught wearing a mask for 1.5 years
  • taught a class of 30 students who didn’t speak the same language as I do
  • taught classes outside my content area
  • taught classes of upwards of 40 students at a time
  • broke up countless fights
  • busted countless drug deals and smoking sessions in class and in the bathrooms
  • confiscated countless lighters (especially after they were used to light another student’s pants on fire)
  • had students pierce each other’s ears during class
  • cleaned up boxes worth of condoms that were thrown like confetti around the room
  • repeatedly reshelved books after they had been thrown at me and other students
  • purchased new AirPods after some students stole mine
  • discovered that THC now comes in chip form

And more! A dear friend of mine suggested I write a memoir with all my bizarre stories – stayed tuned for that to hit shelves soon 😉

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I couldn’t have done it without my amazing support system.

I am so thankful:

  • for my team and the other teachers on my hallway for letting me cry, for letting me bombard them with questions, and for being there for me to rant and laugh and eat way too much candy with!
  • for my family and amazing friends who picked me up, brushed me off, and told me I could do it. You were right. Sorry I didn’t believe you. Thanks for believing enough for both of us.
  • for my students. They taught me so much. I can only hope I passed some of that knowledge on to them.

And if, by chance, this blog post reaches another young teacher who is feeling overwhelmed and defeated, please reach out. You are amazing and you are not alone. Teaching can and should be an amazing and rewarding experience. Let’s work together to achieve that experience together.

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Enough looking back! Now, I look forward to what comes next. I’m moving a little farther south and starting my next adventure at a new school this fall. I know teaching isn’t easy (I never expected it to be) but I’m really looking forward to new and different challenges that maybe don’t push me so close to my breaking point 😉

As I prepare for next school year, I’m celebrating my success (and survival!) with the “Summer of Suz” – I have decided that I will absolutely be living my best life this summer! I started with a week-long trip to visit my sister on the island of St. Maarten. I hope these pictures bring you almost as much joy as this trip brought me.

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I can’t wait to have you join me on my summer adventures! I plan to read a lot, travel a lot, and relax a lot.

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Cheers to you for reading, cheers to me for making it through, and cheers to us that this blog post brought us together! Thankful for you all.  

Always Plan in Pencil

Always Plan in Pencil

by suzannamoberg ♥ 4 Comments

Ah, the age old question of how to start a blog post after an almost six month hiatus. I think the answer is don’t take said hiatus…well, now I know for next time?! 😉

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This blog post has been in the making for half of that break. I took summer to travel, spend quality time with family and friends, and relax after the craziness that was my first year of teaching.

Sitting down to write this post (which, let’s be honest, has been less “sit down and write” and more “I have an idea for a blog post better jot it down in my notes app”) had me thinking a little more about my “goals” for this blog.

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When I first started this platform, my mind ran with the possibilities. I thought I could share fun stories, lesson plans, classroom management strategies, and teacher tips. In theory, all of my stories and posts could help struggling college students who need ELA ideas for lesson plans and new teachers, like myself, who want to make their English classroom engaging and fun.

I looked over all the notes I’ve been taking in my six months off (and trust me, there are lots), and I realized none of those potential posts fit the “ideal blog” space I’d created in my head. It wasn’t positive and uplifting stories. There were no great lesson plans that revolutionized the art of teaching ELA. I had no great classroom management strategies or teacher tips for engagement or relationship building.

Instead, my potential posts felt more like cries for help. Begging for ideas, suggestions, strength, and relief.

How? How, only three months into year number two, am I already feeling so broken?

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I think the main reason for my long break is that I wasn’t ready to admit that my journey as a teacher hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows. In fact, in my darkest moments, it’s been hard to see any sunshine or imagine the possibility of a rainbow.

It’s been so easy to see other teachers post on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok about the great things happening in their classroom. It’s been so easy to compare myself and my classroom to those pictures and feel disheartened that I’m not having that same experience.

I don’t want this blog to turn into a sob story. A space for one very stressed new teacher to complain and whine.

I do think, however, that it’s important to be honest about my experience. If ever this post comes across the feed of another young, stressed teacher, I want him/her/them to know they aren’t alone – even if it feels like it.

In case ^ they come across this post, here are the two pieces of advice I feel qualified to give at this point in my teaching journey:

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1. When it comes to teaching, always plan in pencil.

Here’s what I mean:

– don’t shell out the few extra dollars for the personalized planner with each class printed at the top of page. While cute and, at the time, practical, you never know if your schedule will get changed the week before classes start (or the first day of professional development before classes start). Taking an extra minute to hand-write your classes on the page looks and feels better than having to cross out the printed class to write the new one over it. Always plan in pencil.

– when an activity you spent hours planning and prepping crashes and burns (or your students just refuse to even begin the project), it’s easier to go back and redo your unit if you can just erase the initial ideas in the planner and start over. Always plan in pencil.

– if, after three months, your classroom management strategies still aren’t working, it’s easier to brainstorm new ideas and adjust the policies and procedures if you can go back to the master plan in your notebook and erase (plus, sometimes all that erasing can be therapeutic). Always plan in pencil.

2. When it comes to you, always plan in Sharpie.

And I mean those *huge* Sharpies that you’d use on a poster. Outline it, underline it, go over it twice, and use lots of colors.

– YOU are more important than pencil marks in a planner.

– YOU are more important than crashed lesson plans or units that change every day.

– YOU are more important than students who challenge you and push you to your limits.

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In the last year, my plans and goals for this blog have shifted and changed, and I’m sure that they will every year as I learn and grow as a teacher. For this blog, I will plan in pencil.

In the last year, my plans and goals for myself as a teacher have shifted and changed. But my value and importance as a person have stayed rock solid. I am important. I am worthy. And I am meant to be a teacher. For myself, I will write in Sharpie.

Asking For Me

Asking For Me

by suzannamoberg ♥ 3 Comments

It’s midterms for my students and let me tell you what: emotions are high in my classroom.

We’ve got the students who did a lot of work all semester so they’d be able to slack off at the end (honestly, I can’t really be mad at this one—they’re still passing).

We’ve got the students who slacked off all semester so they’re overwhelmed at the end (not as smart a move, but hey, procrastinators unite).

 We’ve got the students who still haven’t showed up to a single class meeting.

And then there’s me, barely hanging on to the thin, thin, and I mean thin strand holding our class together right now.

Teachers: how do you do it?!

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I’ve read the books and the blog posts. I’ve watched the TikToks (don’t judge, “Teacher Tech Tip” videos are genuinely wonderful!). I know that it’s important to set boundaries. I know that self-care is important.

But how.

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“Self-care” is a not word I’m unfamiliar with. When I worked at a summer camp, I preached this to my staff every summer when sleep hours were low and emotions were high. I’ve comforted friends and loved ones and reminded them that it’s okay to make time to care for yourself.

It’s easy to say that to other people. It’s easy to read it in a book and highlight that passage and nod along thinking “these are great ideas and I’ll definitely put these into practice in my own life.” Only it’s really hard to actually put them into practice in my own life.

How many times have I said “I’m done for the night” only to move to the couch and answer more emails from my phone?

How many times have I said “You know what, I’ll do this in the morning” only to keep working at 1:00 AM because my to-do list kept me from falling asleep?

How many times have I cancelled plans with my family and friends because I had to grade or plan?

The answer to those questions is “too many times to count.”

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I’ve tried.

I’ve filled my phone screen with esthetically pleasing motivational quotes (that iOS14 update is a game changer!)…just to replace them with reminder, calendar, and email widgets.

I’ve drawn up a bath, lit a candle, grabbed snacks (FYI Dots Pretzels do not float when dropped in water), and put on nice music…just to answer emails because the constant buzz from my phone was stressing me out.

I purchased a journal to keep next to my bed for all the emotional stories that need somewhere to go that isn’t my head and my heart…just to use that journal to make middle-of-the-night-to-do lists for school.

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Teachers, friends, family, strangers on the internet:

How do you set boundaries?

How do you create a self-care routine?

How do you balance teaching and living?

Bonus Question: how do you keep those boundaries, routines, and balance?

Asking for a friend.

Me.