'It's
just one of those weeks,' is a phrase used often to convey all the shitty
things that happen, that really squash you down in the quagmire. It's usually
accompanied by a sigh and a head tilt down. You know the movements. You've done
it hundreds of times, I'm sure. I find it quite a useful phrase because whilst
the reasons behind your week will be different to someone else's, you don't need to explain further.
Those six words are enough. 'It's just one of those weeks.' Bam. Done. Sentiments conveyed.
Alternatives
to this phrase are of course the shorter time period: 'It's just one of those
days.'
And of
course the ones no one really wants to experience: 'It's just one of those
months.' Or even worse, 'It's just one of those years.' Though of course there
will be some form of hope or light or silver lining within these longer time
periods, otherwise life would be a constant sigh.
So as you
might have guessed, this week was one of those weeks for me, and whilst I don't
need to explain further, it wouldn't be much of a blog if I didn't. But alas,
do not fear, the week wasn't a total disaster and so this rant will be split
into two sections:
- The things that killed my
week
- The things that saved my
week.
The Things That Killed My Week
- Monday
On Monday I was forgotten. I was an inconvenience. I ruined people's
plans. On Monday I was shat all over. On Monday I was livid!
I arrived to teach at my newest school. I have been there 10 weeks. I go
every Monday unless I am on half term break. And so, I arrive on an unusually
sunny and warm Monday morning to find half of my Toddler class leaving the
premises for a trip to the park. Now, I have no problem with the children
taking trips and I think they should have lots of outdoor play, but not in the
half hour window that I have to teach them, and not when their parents have
paid for a service which I am supposed to provide. The looks on the faces of
the staff were incredible. Like me turning up on time, for my lesson, when I'm
supposed to, was such an inconvenience to them - not me, but them! - and that
I'd ruined their day.
But as always, I couldn't lose my shit, because the children were there
and it's not fair on them, and I would never subject them to an angry, or even
heated discussion with the staff whilst they were in ear shot. However, I was
particularly angry and peeved because this is not the first time they've
'forgotten' I was coming. Their only comment was: 'We were just going to the
park.' I mean, what can even you say to that? You shouldn't be going to the
park right now. I need these children in music class. Are you morons? And
ultimately, why didn't the manager or upper echelons - another incredible word
- stop them from going out?
Anyhoo, I put on my Little Miss Diplomatic
hat, and told them they had to be back in half an hour and I would see if I
could teach the Preschool class first. It didn't give them long in the park,
but really they should have offered to bring the children back, which of course
they didn't. So, I enter the school, I ask if the Preschool class would be
ready for a lesson now and I am told they are going to the park. At this point
they're lucky I'm still wearing the hat because there are no children present
and I'm seething. Needless to say, I persuade them otherwise, possibly through
the look on my face, and it all works out. But I keep thinking: the new term
starts at the end of April, we'll probably be having lots of nice weather. Are
they going to do this every week? And so I sent a rather heated email to the
managers to explain my thoughts on this matter.
Sadly, it doesn't end there. The child I teach on Monday asked me to
fill in a form for him, for school and in the past his mum had commented on how
I should have filled it in because it's quicker, and I thought oh, okay, this
must have come from her. And I filled it in with his help, but of course I got
something wrong and then I felt terrible and really I shouldn't trust the nine
year old to give me all the information.
And finally, what should have been a bright spot in the week, my final
Italian lesson, was a bit of a dirge. I worked really hard on this written
homework and she didn't even ask us to read them out, or collect them in to
read herself. I spent a lot of time on it and being me it wasn't a short piece
of writing. And nothing. Boo. Okay, enough of Monday. Shitty all round.
- Tuesday
Tuesday morning I was super productive. I was up early and working and
sorting things for music class. I left on time and was excited for my last
class of the term, when the bus decided not to come for 25 minutes. So I called
to say I would be late. I HATE BEING LATE! Then the bus did that annoying thing
where it stopped to change drivers and got stuck in a mass of traffic at King's
Cross. So I arrived 20 minutes late for my lesson. I have never arrived 20
minutes late for a music class in my life. I also had the rest of my morning
and early afternoon cleverly planned out because I still had 8 reports to write
for Wednesday. But of course everything was then delayed and I only managed to
get 4 of the 8 reports done before my afternoon work. Bollocks.
- Wednesday
I seem to be increasingly in the way. I seem to be an inconvenience
everywhere I go. And so, another day of teaching, another bought of shit. The
schools I work at use a particular educational philosophy - I won't expand on
that only to say that the teachers of this educational philosophy often tend to
be very rigid. They have little flexibility in their ways and times and I find
flexibility is essential when working with children of all ages. That's all I
will say on that matter. But, I was essentially booted off the nice large
carpeted area in order for the children to be able to take their activities
back and forth from the table and, essentially I'm in their way. I was shoved
in the book corner which meant the children sitting on a small rug and me
sitting on the hard floor. Yay!
Now what really kicked me in the teeth was the fact that all morning,
and I taught three classes in there, none of the children were using the
equipment from the shelves around the carpet area. None of them were doing
their work cycle, and most of them were standing behind me, climbing over me,
walking through the circle where I was teaching, and running around screaming.
So I spent most of my lessons asking the other children to go away, screaming
over the din in the room and longing for a carpet to sit on. Why I am getting a
numb bum on hard floors when you're not even doing what you said you'd be
doing? Knobs.
Now these were my last classes before my Easter break. I take two weeks
off at Easter, mainly for my sanity after writing 60 reports, and every year I
get these comments: 'Oh, two weeks, it's alright for some.' 'That must be
nice.' 'I wish I had two weeks off.' *Takes deep breath before launching into a
rant that's been brewing for some time*
I am self-employed. Yes, two weeks off is amazing, but in those two
weeks off I am not paid. I have no money. I will earn zilch! Whenever I take a
holiday, I have to pay for that holiday but I get no holiday pay. Again,
earning nothing when paying for things. I think some people just don't get it.
They go on holiday and they are still paid for their time away. I am not. If I
don't work I don't have any money. I don't get sick pay so I have to work even
if I am sick, or I have to refund, so I lose money. Everything that happens is
reliant on me. There is only me. I am a one person operation. Anything goes
wrong, it's on me. Etc. Etc. So whilst there are some perks for being
self-employed. Holidays whenever you want, are not really one of them. And I
would appreciate less comments on the matter.
The final catastrophe was when the hoover broke down, again, whilst I
was half way through the hoovering and A's parents were on the way for a visit.
And I still had to clean the kitchen and prepare dinner for everyone........
And breathe.
- Thursday
New tax year. Urgh. That means I need to start thinking about my self-assessment
tax return. Again. How does it come around so quickly? And you know all those
things that you think you're going to do through the year, like keep up with
your expenses list, and working out your travel as you go along? This is the
point where you realise you didn't do anything of that. Oops.
I also had 40 parent emails to do, which took forever because my mind
was doing that thing where it wanders around and acts out scenes from my
novels, and just generally severs ties with concentration. It was painful but I
got them done.
Things That Saved My Week
- Monday was a total write
off. Nothing saved my week on Monday. Nothing!
- Tuesday was saved by my good
friend Claire, amazingly exciting pizza and a large glass of wine. Thank
you Claire. Also, I had started reading 'Is It Just Me?' By Miranda Hart,
and it was just what I needed. You really have to hold back the laughter
on public transport.
- Wednesday was saved by A
arriving home just before his parents arrived so we could all eat risotto
together.
- Thursday was saved by a conversation
with an adult, buying a gorgeous dress in the sale, and Mexican food. A
truck load of Mexican food.
- Friday was saved by a 7.5 km
run, hopefully burning off some of said Mexican food.
I think my point is that whilst you may be having 'one of those weeks',
there will always be a bright spot. There will be something that can reconfirm
your faith in humanity or simply make you smile. And even if that moment is
gone too soon, it happened and it's there for you to hold onto through the
shitty quagmire.
Thanks for reading. I hope you're having a better week, though granted
it was mainly Monday to Wednesday that whipped me into a frenzy. I hope you can
enjoy a relaxing end to the week and soak up some sunshine.
Rants out.
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