Friday List Mania Numero Dos: Posts That Are As Supportive As A Good Bra

It is Friday and as promised, here is another list of some of my most popular posts (or my BEST if you’re keeping tabs on that whole January NaBloPoMo theme thing). (And yes, I took the original list of most commented upon posts and broke it down into various sublists. Are you really that surprised?) ( And yes, perhaps this post will also be broken down further into even shorter more concise lists…your welcome.)

Oh my Internet friends. You have been so incredibly supportive of me over the last two and a half years…like the good bra that I can never bring myself to get measured for and fork over the money to buy. (Sorry boys, but the ladies know what I mean.) In many ways, you have been just as supportive as my Super Colleagues when the going got rough and thankless and for that, I thank you. You are the BEST! (Ha! In your face, theme!)

In the spirit of being positive in 2010 (Seriously, is this a new me or what? I wonder how long it will last…I’m also fairly certain that people in my family have bets on various dates…), let’s take a moment and give a big virtual hug to one another. (Awwwww.) And now, let’s think about our real live Super Colleagues who support us each and every day. Even though I’m no longer in the classroom and none of us work in the same building anymore, I still could not ask for more supportive people in my life. Think of these people as you begin your weekend and perhaps fine tune your plans for next week. Ignore the Bacon Hunters who spend their time alternating between taking up precious space in the building and raining down on you with their purposeless demands and less-than-helpful agenda. Forget about the ways in which your voice, common sense and knowledge are often pushed aside for the allure of the all might dog-and-pony show. Push out of your mind the Big White Guitars who never hand you grades for your report cards until the last second when you’ve already bubbled in millions upon millions of tiny bubbles and are suffering from acute carpal tunnel-like symptoms and with your last ounce of strength you want nothing more than to turn the damn report cards in and cross them off your list of To Dos and only, if only, he would just get you the freaking grades that he is responsible for. (Deep breath.) (Positive thoughts.) (Rose colored glasses.)

And I’m back.

Okay, so here are some examples of the many ways your support, encouragement, emails and overall virtual love have gotten me through. (And if the shmaltz police haven’t already stopped you from reading this post , you may want to begin humming “I’ll Be There” by the Jackson 5 to heighten the experience of reading the remainder of my ramblings. Just a thought…a very positive I’m-a-new-woman-in-2010 thought.)

“You and I must make a pact,
We must bring salvation back….”

At the end of a long day, in which every obstacle possible was put between me and the successful teaching of my friends, you were there.

Like the time when the recess aides decided to punish the children for their behavior outside by forcing them to bring books to lunch to read. Ah yes, reading as punishment.

Or the time when the school refused to buy me any more toner for my printer. You know, because we’re run like a business when it’s convenient for The Powers That Be, but when you point out that a business would never expect it’s employees to bring in their own toner, suddenly we’re just a school run on a tight budget. When you’re forced to buy toner, it kind of takes the choice out of Teacher’s Choice money, don’t you think?

“Where there is loooooove,
I’ll be there……”

(Yes, I’m still singing.)

Then there were the moments with Big Boy, one of my most challenging students ever. EVER. E.V.E.R. These posts sparked some controversy, but then again, I think there are definitely people out there who don’t want to hear a teacher say anything unless it’s about sunshine and rainbows. Unless we’re farting kittens. That’s allowed too.

“I’ll reach out my hand to you, I’ll have faith in all you do,
Just call my naaaaame, and I’ll be there.”

And who can forget the ways in which you have supported me through all my rants and raves? Did you allow people to pee in my Cheerios when I was blessed with a rare, but wonderful Snow Day NO! Did you support me in my unedited rage against those who think teachers shouldn’t be able to profit fully from their own lesson plans? OF COURSE YOU DID!

“And oh, I’ll be there to comfort you,
Build my world of dreams around you,
I’m so glad that I found you….”

Finally, how can I not thank you for supporting me through one of the biggest, most difficult, most exciting, most terrifying transitions of my life? I’m talking about the decision to turn this whole thing into a book, the thrill of seeing myself on a shelf at my beloved Barnsey, and the emotional drama of leaving my classroom.

“I’ll be there with a love that’s strong,
I’ll be your strength, I’ll keep holding on….”

Thank you for letting me speak my mind. I’d give you a hug, but I don’t want to get you sick.

Shmaltz patrol, take me away!