A Day In The Life (Substitute Teacher Version) 2024

Since my working days and non-working days look so different, I decided I wanted to document "A Day In The Life" for each.  Tuesday this week I did my "SAHM version" and Thursday I did my "Substitute Teacher Version".

On days I work, I typically still wake up at 6:15. Because of the budget cuts in our district and the loss of specialists, teachers have their planning time before school, which means Carly's school day doesn't start until 9:30, so I have plenty of time in the mornings, especially since we live so close to the school. 

Thursday I woke up the boys, then sauntered downstairs to make my lunch and breakfast and get Carly fed breakfast. I switched the laundry as well, and was able to spend some time reading my book (The Snow Child- an annual re-read for me during Christmas time) and enjoying my breakfast. I have the same breakfast nearly every single day. Eggs (farm fresh from my mother-in-law), three sausage links and english muffins smothered in the raspberry jam my mom and I made this summer, along with one cup of coffee with plenty of creamer. 

Once Carly and I were done and I had made my lunch (a sandwich, peaches and yogurt because I have a toothache and anything too hard or chewy is going to make it act up) we said goodbye to the boys (they leave at 7:20 every morning) and went upstairs to get ready for the day ourselves. Carly dressed up as Mrs. Claus per the school's spirit week guide, and I wore jeans with one of my favorite tops and silver Christmas light earrings. 

I also spent a little time that morning researching nose burning, as one of my  nostrils hurts so bad lately. I think the culprit is a mix of dry air and my CPAP machine, so I followed the advice I read and increase the humidity of my CPAP, plus I put neosporin in my nose, and oh the relief!

We were able to move slow this morning as I didn't have to be in until 9:15, so we found an old Christmas necklace for Carly to wear and got her decked out in her new heels and leggings. 

I also wasn't too worried about being in early that morning because the teacher is a friend of mine who emailed me the plans, so I was able to read over them leisurely at home and not in a panic the morning of the sub job. 

It was a fun class to sub in because she has a bunch of my kindergartners from last year when I was student teaching and it's always so special to spend time with them again. Oh, how I adore those kiddos! Her whole class is great, and even the two little friends I struggled with are the sweetest- they just struggle with self control and issues beyond their capacity to deal. 

At one point, one of those friends ended up showering the rest of us with Legos and we had to do a room clear. Thankfully other teachers are simply the best and we just went straight into another classroom to enjoy a little creative play time before PE started. The kids had a blast and our struggling friend was able to regain his composure. 

During PE I wrote notes to each teacher at Carly's school asking them to keep me in mind if they need subs in the new year. We are limited (again because of our districts' budget issues) to about 10 days of subbing per month, but I would like to max that amount out each month to contribute as much as I can to our family financially. 

In the afternoon we did math rotations and I played peaceful Christmas music as we worked. It was really nice and the kids did great!

After PE the students came in and completed any unfinished work before starting their Learn Through Play time, which they, of course, love! We also did Learn Through Play in my student teaching kinder class, and it's one of my favorite times of the day. I love the opportunity to just go around, hanging out with each kid, chatting and getting to know them. To me, making those connections makes it easier to help students stay motivated to work for me (which I wanted because I was coming back to this same class Friday), but also because kids are fun and funny, and I love hearing what they have to say. 

I was gifted this adorable gingerbread girl by a student and before we knew it, it was time to clean the classroom, get our backpacks on and line up.  About half this class rode the bus and the other half was parent pick up. I had to help a kiddo find his lost coat, so Carly, who arrived downstairs from third grade as we were leaving the classroom lead my parent pick up kids outside for their rides; my bussers lined up with another teacher who takes them to bus pick up; and I commenced a search for a lost jacket. We found it (hooray!) and then got him where he needed to go. Crisis averted. 

After we got back from getting all the kids to their rides home, Carly played while I tidied the classroom and prepared it for the next day. Playing with the things different teachers have in their classrooms is definitely a perk of being a substitutes' daughter. Sometimes it's hard as I have work to do, copies to make or plans to read and she wants my attention, but for the most part, she is a dream, easily entertains herself and can be trusted to help carry out jobs or tasks I need help with. I'm so grateful for my little sidekick and proud that I can be an example to her of a working mom balancing it all. 

Technically I was off at 3:45, but I never leave on time. I am friends with so many staff that I almost always end up chatting with one person or another before we head home, and Thursday was no exception. But we got out pretty close to 3:45 because I wanted to get home to the boys and to get dinner started. 

While I am mostly sad I don't have my own classroom this year, I also see the perks, which include a lot more time with her since subbing doesn't require lesson planning or meetings. I feel blessed to get another year where I am mostly a stay-at-home mom for her and Wyatt. The twins don't even remember a time when I worked, (I quit when they were 2 years + 8 months old and was 25 weeks pregnant with Wyatt) so it hurts my heart a little bit that Carly and Wyatt will definitely have to help me juggle motherhood with a career. 
But to be honest, they both seem completely fine with it. In fact, they often tell me that they're proud of me or ask matter-of-factly, "Do you work tomorrow?" I can tell it doesn't bother them in the least. Kids are so awesome and flexible and resilient through change, whereas I go kicking and screaming. Hah!

This girl's favorite part of having a mom who subs, though, is being able to go in the staff room if there are treats. My little sweet tooth.  The last week before Christmas is a regular smorgasbord of Christmas treats, and sister girl enjoyed that thoroughly!

On the way home from school (whether I have subbed or not) we always stop and get the mail. Carly is the best and jumps out to get it, then rides home in the front seat (which she's not normally allowed to do) for the last block before our driveway. If it's sunny, I'll sometimes even let her stand out the sunroof, usually singing her head off. 
I love kids- they truly cherish the little things. 

When we got home on Thursday, Josh arrived shortly after us and Carly immediately wanted snuggles. She's such a dramatic goofball and did this pose as I tried to snap a picture of them. She's "so tired". If you've forgotten, third grade is hard work! All the reading and writing and multiplication facts! Oh my!

After a quick chat about our days with Josh on the couch (and Carly in the middle) I got started making dinner, which was golden mushroom soup patties, a family favorite over rice. I got the pressure cooker started with the rice (it makes it sooo yummy!) and then began mixing the patties. The onions got me crying (per usual) and before we knew it, dinner was cooking. 

As dinner cooked, I got the family to all pitch in for a quick tidy downstairs, placing pillows back on the couches; taking out the garbage and recycling; putting shoes where they belong and Carly doing her job of unloading the dishwasher so that after dinner, Jack can easily do the dishes (which is his job this week). 

We also switched the laundry as that cannot be neglected during the week when I work, and I made the brownies that our elf Dashy and his wife Snowflake brought this week for Carly. They baked while I made dinner and boom! we had dessert for after we ate. These brownies came with some marshmallow topping to stir in before they cooked that turned out to be quite delicious! Yum!

After dinner I took Carly upstairs for bed and she brushed, took a melatonin and got pajamas on. Then we read two Christmas stories and went in her room to sing songs before bed. She has a bedtime playlist on Youtube music that we sometimes use, so we did that one. I played Godspeed by Dixie Chicks; Fire and the Flood by Vance Joy; and Boy by Lee Brice before I kissed her and left her room for the night. 

After I got Carly down I slid into my pajamas and snuggled up in the reading chair in my room and scrolled my phone. Then I read a few chapters of The Snow Child before the boys' bedtime.  Maggie joined me, sitting on the arm of my chair and purring so deliciously in my ear. It made me so happy!

At about 9:00pm I headed downstairs to take my medicine, give Jack his medicine and make sure that the elves moved somewhere. I was lazy that night and just hung them on the picture of our family in the living room. 

Josh and I took the boys' phones, locked the doors, put the dogs in their crates and took the car keys upstairs and then got ready for bed ourselves. 

I ended up going to bed much earlier Thursday because I had stayed up way too late Wednesday and was exhausted! Plus I worked Friday and wanted to have enough energy to keep up with the kids who would be Level 10 excited about Christmas break coming up. Unfortunately it seems no matter what time I go to bed, I am so tired all the time. But it's better on days I work because the energy of the kids somehow fuels me. I just love being in the classroom so much. 

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