Your Parting Gift

I have to say that going back to clean out my classroom today was much less of an emotional experience than I had expected. I walked through the door and the school psychologist, who we refer to as "The Good Doctor", cocked his head to the side in true analytical fashion and asked, "How are you?" You know, that leading, gentle psychiatrist question that really means, "Please God tell me you're more fucked up than I am so I can feel better about myself and my Harvard degree." But of course, my ultimately professional response was, "I'm fab. How about you?"

It took me about 15 minutes flat to pack up everything in that room that was mine and schlep it out to my father's minivan (yes, minivan). I peeked my head in the educational director's office to let her know I was leaving and she said, and I quote, "Wow. You look...really happy." DUH.

The only tough part was when the curriculum director came in and handed me this giant piece of construction paper and said, "Here. Your favorite kid made this for you."

Inside was a big long note from my little cop kid, saying he hoped he could see me again and that he would miss me. On the other side of the card he had taped all his army men, his favorites, just for me... And yes, I cried.

AND I'M OUT!!!

I apologize deeply for falling off the face of the earth but recently all of the children have become possessed by evil spirits with varying degrees of scariness. I've gotten my ass kicked from here to Sunday and just finally had enough.

So what did I do today when it was suggested that perhaps if I better managed my classroom there would be fewer negative behaviors? I very calmly, cooly, and professionally replied, "Um yeah fuck that. I'm out."

No, seriously. I decided that my job was no longer a good fit for me. Nor was it a fit for my horribly bruised eye, aching head, and bruised limbs. I wasn't sad to leave at all. I'm actually looking forward to the tedium of job hunting and finding something where I won't get mutilated by the Bride of Chuckie on a regular basis. YAY ME!

Wish me luck!