Rods & lightning strikes

[Doodles]

Susie Bee--I didn't know you taught too. I don't know how you did the surgery and taught--I'm impressed! You must have had to take a lot of time off. I just said to someone today that I didn't think I could have done this if I hadn't retired in June 08. I had 8th grade English most of my 34 and a half years. How about you? Glad you had such a fun summer before going back. Janet

[Susie*Bee]

Janet-- I thought 3 months off would be long enough -- Ha! No way! I ended up taking the whole next year off, the 2007/2008 school year. It was really hard when I did go back, and would have to come home and REST! But by the end of the year my end-of-the-day fatigue was probably mostly from just the work and my age rather than mostly from the surgery, if you know what I mean... Working with books (200-400/day) and kids is tiring!

I am not a teacher. I run the library at our elementary school-- I have each class (about 20 of them) for 45 minutes a week, so I have to prepare plans/lessons/activities for K-5. I am always busy at school! My hours are from 7:30-3:30 every day. Starting at 8:00, if I don't have a class in there, it's open time for kids to come switch books. Plus I have lunch and recess duties... it's rather arduous in my opinion, with no "down" time. I have a hard time just finding a chance to run papers off, do bulletin boards, and that kind of stuff! I am a college graduate but in an area totally unrelated to library sciences-- my BS degree (years ago!) was in wildlife management-- lots of classes in the sciences--mostly zoology, botany- and of course, wildlife management. However, I have always been big into children's literature, am darn good at reading aloud, and know how to inspire and encourage many kids to enjoy books and read, read, read! It works out well for our school--they get a decent librarian at a fraction of the cost... and, of course, I have my supervisor (over at the high school) to do the rest of the work. With my schedule it would be impossible to do the acquisitions and all it entails. I am just now starting to feel a bit panicky with all I need to do to get ready for this year. Yikes!

If anyone has read their way through all that, bless your heart. My
"spin" on going back to work at a job like that, for someone my age and extent of surgery, I am still torn. If I'd had my "druthers" I would have retired first-- but after reflecting on it some more, I really think it helped me get much farther in what I'm able to do by having to push myself so much. I spent my first year post-op doing lots of PT and trying to get into shape for going back, and then last year pushed me to the brink of building my daily endurance and stamina for being busy all day long. I would never have done that on my own. So I think it was good for me to have to go back to work. Of course, I can still daydream about the leisurely things I'll do once I retire, but in the meantime I'll enjoy those kids and the challenges my job brings. Sorry this is so long and off base from the thread...

[jrnyc]

Hi susie-bee
i used to teach special ed in nyc(manhattan) & then became a social worker in the schools...NEVER could have gone back to work after your kind of surgery(i havent had it yet)...retired due to severe pain & am now debating whether to have the surgery or not....used to go up & down 5 LONG flights of stairs in a nyc school building that was over a hundred years old!! it was very tough with the pain without the surgery...with it would have been impossible....our kids were violent & physical & exhausting, not matter how much anyone loved the job!!
here's to all who return to work after surgery...you guys are heroes!

take care
jess

[Doodles]

Susie Bee--Thanks for all of your information. You definitely sound like our media specialists which is a full teacher job! They are getting a deal with you. I think the wildlife management background was great teaching preparation--ha! Good luck to you with your new school year! Janet

[JenniferG]

I'm just beginning to realise teaching isn't such a cushy job. <ducks as library book whizzes overhead>