I've been sick now for over a month with various formations of a cold. One weeks it's nasal congestion. The next it is a cough and sore throat. This week's "cold special" is the chills, a light headed feeling and nausea...my favorite! I have chugged along this far, I didn't want to take a day off. Here is my dilemma. I have 7 sick days for the entire year. I used one for day my transmission blew and we needed to get a new car. 7-1=6. I have 8 months left in school. That's less than 1 sick day per month. NOT COOL.
So, Wednesday morning I wake up. I feel like crap. Well that's an overstatement. But my determination got me dressed, and got me to school. I didn't leave substitute plans because I told myself I could do it. I can do anything I put my mind to it. Correction: I can do anything I put a well rested and taken care of mind to.
I felt I had the responsibility to my students. To leave a thorough plan. I have observed this year, teachers who call out and don't leave students work - or enough work to get through the entire 1 hour and 40 minute period. So I made copies and gathered everything together. As soon as I arrived at school I spoke to the head honchos of the school and they said they would try and find a substitute, but didn't seem ecstatic about the idea of me leaving.
In my head the entire time I am thinking: I took the time to make sure everything was perfect for my kids...and the higher ranking personnel cannot even see that. They see a teacher who wants to go home because she is "claiming to be sick".
After a lot of confusion a sub was found and I was home and in bed by 10am. I woke up around 3 and shot off two e-mails. I was again asleep until 10pm. Awake until 1am and slept again until 11am the next morning...yes I had Thursday off since it was Veterans Day. Needless to say my body thanked me.
MORAL OF THE DAY: When your body tells you you are sick, and it has to do with lack of sleep...give in. You cannot charge ahead at 1000% everyday of the year. It is OK. Even if some colleagues do not agree you are going about it the right way.
