March 2026 SOLC–Day 4
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I’m tired.
Do you know that saying, or maybe it’s a fable, about the frog in the boiling water? How if you try to put a frog into boiling water, it will jump out? But if you put a frog in cool water and gradually turn up the temperature, it will remain in the water and boil alive?
Sorry to start your day with that imagery, but I’ve been feeling like that lately. A lot. Like I’m the frog. And my classroom is the water. And it is boiling me alive.
I lay awake in bed this morning at about 3:30 am, unable to fall back to sleep, thinking about yesterday at school, pondering an incoming phone call from a parent scheduled for this morning, and wondering when I’m going to deal with all sorts of looming deadlines. The days are filled with one demand or need after another and by the time I get home, I’m utterly exhausted. Spent. Unable to open up my bag and get anything done.
Lying in bed this morning, giving up on the idea of sleep returning, I start to consider the fable more carefully. I notice some flaws in my thinking. First of all, the water in my classroom was NEVER cool. In fact, I think it’s cooler now than it was at the beginning of the year. We’ve made some progress. Yay! … at least on some days. But the never ending exposure has left me hot and bothered and tired. Drained. Cooked to the bone. I sometimes wonder if I’ve just become accustomed to the uncomfortable temperature. What toll is it taking on me? On them? There’s such a constant draining need with this group of kids.
It’s been a year of firsts. I’ve had to remove sticky notes from the classroom materials. And then pens. And now, I decide, scissors are going. Oh, and apparently tape is too, because someone threw away or absconded with or destroyed part of the tape dispenser yesterday. Or maybe it just got lost. (Though my experience this year suggests the latter is unlikely.) My exhaustive search for the missing piece was unsuccessful after school yesterday. Another material bites the dust. These aren’t the sort of firsts I was hoping for when I began the year. I wonder idly how much money I’ll be budgeted for supplies this year. I know the budget is tight. I think of all the destroyed materials I need to replace. And, really, that’s just a symptom of larger problems. I sigh and roll out of bed and away from this unhelpful cycle of thinking. It’s 4:07 and there’s not much hope of sleep returning.
This year is a lot and I’m sure the events in the larger world add to all of it. I know there will be positives today. That we’ll learn and laugh. That there will be moments of joy along with the moments of frustration. But right now, the new day is beginning, and I’m still tired from the last 104 of them. (Who’s counting, right?)
When I’m feeling overwhelmed, one of my go-to strategies is, ironically, to take a hot tub and relax.
I’m rethinking that one right now.
Nix the comfort zone 
Well, unfortunately, it’s a perfect metaphor. Hoping your students give you at least a delightful slice today…
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Well, as you’ll see tomorrow, they definitely gave me a slice. But I definitely wouldn’t call it delightful.
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I hadn’t heard that fable but I love it. Hopefully it gets better! Your supply list made me think of the year, behaviorally, I had to get rid of glue sticks and scissors because my class just couldn’t handle it. Solved the budget problem! Hang in there
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That fable is unfortunately apt for current times as well! Thankfully we’ve managed to hold on to glue sticks. At least so far!
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Cooked to the bone. Your post hits deep today, as I reflect on the frogs, too, and wonder if I’ve been turning a little green this year and whether it’s time to get out of the water. I love how you framed this metaphor and applied it so aptly to life and work.
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It’s a powerful metaphor and, as another commenter noted, unfortunately apt.
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Sooo hard- I can feel your frustration and tiredness through your slice. I hope you have some bright spots in the days ahead!
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There are always some bright spots, and I try to remember them. There’s just such an incredibly large ongoing energy demand on top of that. Thanks for your support!
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I’ve been waking up early with many spinning thoughts, unable to fall back to sleep, like you. You capture so well the stress you’re feeling, and oof, it’s a lot. I remembered one of my classes where similarly I had to remove so many materials because they kept getting misused. It’s so tough. Hopefully you got in a hot tub and allowed yourself to melt and cool off!
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Thanks, Amy! Sleepless nights are no fun. Here’s hoping you have some better sleep heading your way!
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You as well!! Maybe the sleep gods will bless us tonight.
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I hope today is better for you. So far you’ve been a labrador and a frog. You’ll have quite the menagerie by the end of March. I think the frog in water image is one that we are all experiencing (to different degrees!) this year. May today be a pleasant surprise. And I don’t mean just finding the tape.
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Your comment made me laugh and also made me wonder what animal I might be next…maybe that’s food (or fodder) for another slice?
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I think my body is preparing for spring forward by waking me earlier each day. Ugh! I’m sorry this is such a tough year for you. I do enjoy your sense of humor about the whole thing.
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It’s better to laugh than cry, right?
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Your exhaustion and frustration is palpable in this slice. I’m so sorry you are going through this. This too shall pass, but when you’re in it, it’s hard to see a way out. I hope you have people at school you can lean on for support with your students.
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Thanks! I have a fabulous team and am very well supported. I’m grateful for that everyday!
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The humor at the end…
The hope for some good moments, too… but oh, the stress is so real. I remember times like that (retired now). I have a friend who has a very rough kindergarten (yes, kinder!!) class this year. Hope you both find ways to take care of yourselves (like this writing).
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Thanks, Diane. I appreciate the supportive comment!
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Those are the years where I had to celebrate whatever I could, because the “wins” weren’t many. One year I finally started telling our then principal that she absolutely would stop by my class on any day I was out. Too many guest teachers (subs) said they would never be back. Staff all over the school would tell me how “bad my class was”. But you know what, there were AMAZING kids in that room, and I did my best to let them know that. The ones that struggled pushed me to find out new strategies to help them, and they did, little by little. Was it perfect? No. Was it better? Yes. And then the year did end and I highly recommended they split a bunch of kids up for the next year.
You’ve got this, even when you feel like you don’t. They are lucky to have a teacher who cares enough to lose sleep. Try not to let yourself feel you need to fix everything because you can’t. Remove the supplies, talk with them about why and what they can do to earn them back. (Or earn them for specific tasks, and then you collect them.) If you haven’t already, you might do some teaching about their brains & how they work, and add some breath work into your day. Take time for yourself!!
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Thanks for all the helpful suggestions. There definitely are amazing kids in my class and working with them one-on-one is so rewarding. As a group … well, that’s where it gets challenging.
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Molly, You are such an effective communicator. Your paragraph starting with “I lie awake in bed…” made me have a little PTSD from years ago. Teaching is so hard, such a boiling mess sometimes. May today be an unexpected day of peace and calm for you. It’s good your are keeping your sense of humor.
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Thanks, Denise! I can’t say today was peaceful and calm, but it’s in the books!
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I want to fix all these problems for you. This post is both vital and heartbreaking. It’s not much comfort knowing others have had these experiences, these years, these classes when you’re in the center of the chaos. And it feels so personal when kids destroy things and act out. I hope you know it’s not personal. Something broke long before they arrived in your classroom. Something has to change in this system that has made teaching so hard and heartbreaking. Peace and lots of compassion coming your way.
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Thanks, Glenda.
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Clever ending! Time for a leave, a sabbatical, or at least a mental health day! Yours is an impossible job to do while maintaining a sense of self, attending to what’s also important to you. I’ve been where you are. Taking one day at a time and an evening glass of wine with Hannah got me through, or at least I thought it did. At 48, the demands of the classroom, its relentlessness, the isolation of the self-contained teacher got to me got to me. I was able to go to the University of New Hampshire for my PhD thanks to my hardworking, adorable wife!
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I decided to improve upon your suggestion and have two glasses of wine tonight! That’s a rare occurrence. I’m thankful to your hardworking, adorable wife, too, as your class was a joy at UNE and I never would have met the both of you otherwise!
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Twice as nice! We also felt Thursday night was the start of the weekend. I could always (well mostly) get through a Friday!
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Molly, so well expressed without being negative. I love how you bookended your slice with your first sentence: “Do you know that saying, or maybe it’s a fable, about the frog in the boiling water?” and your last sentence: “When I’m feeling overwhelmed, one of my go-to strategies is, ironically, to take a hot tub and relax.” It brought some humor to the frustration. Blessings. As my mother always told me, “This too shall pass.”
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That’s a good motto! I also try not to worry too far forward. The phrase “sufficient unto the day” has been in my head a lot lately.
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Some years are like that. Kids are changing overall, and it is harder and harder to get them to attend. I’ve been sharing tips from Teach Happier by Suzanne Dailey with our staff- It’s full of super short chapters meant to read one each Sunday night to head into the week a bit more positive! Glad to hear there’s progress, that’s a celebration!
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Attention is a huge problem in my class. I’ll definitely try to check out the book you’ve mentioned. Thanks for mentioning it!
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Oh have I been there! Haven’t we all in education? Like the tidal wave just never stops cresting. One day at a time, right?
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Some days it’s one hour at a time! lol
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I was trying to explain to my husband tonight how kids are different now…is it the world, is it the constant exposure to screens, is it gentle parenting, the lingering impact of the pandemic? I keep reminding myself to find the glimmers of joy. Some days it’s hard, some days impossible, and some days are simply wonderful! Wishing you some wonderful!
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