#TBT to that time last month we did the CHaD!

I decided to do some blog cleanup today and remove a few things from the sidebar. Of course, that reminded me that I never wrote a blog post about the CHaD hike. Silly me! This year was less fun than past years, which maybe is why I didn’t enthusiastically rush home and do a post. Alan ran the 5K with a still-recovering calf muscle, and the kids and I did the 10k hike with Rosy. It was snowing in the morning on the way there, but the snow cleared and the sun came out. They change the hike route a bit, without any useful signage, so we were a bit confused along the way and we all agreed that the new route is much hillier! They have also been upping the registration fee and minimum donation amounts each year, and it’s getting pretty pricey for a family of four! I think they’re shooting themselves in the foot a bit and pricing out some families who have been loyal participants. I know a few who didn’t participate this year and we are unlikely to do it next year. I was thinking a nice check to Team Brady would be much easier and more enjoyable for most of us. :)

Anyway, we did it and I have the photos to prove it! (well, photos to prove Rosy, Eve, and Lex did it anyway ;) )

Eve loved the obstacle course before the hike.

She gets some good air!

It ended up being a beautiful day, once the snow blizzard passed.

This tree root provided a lovely spot to rest.

We even did some trail clearing along the way!

Teaching is hard. The first year is hard. Everyone tells me this and everyone swears it’s true. Don’t give up, they say, stick with it. The first year is hard.

I’m only subbing, long-term, but so far things were going great. I was confident in my abilities, moving right along, getting things done, and we were doing ok. Then this week hit! I only have ten kids, and a few of them are challenging, but I have enough easy-going ones to balance it out and keep the class going. Not this week. Monday was tough and Tuesday was tougher. Wednesday I made a plan and made some changes. Today I tried again. It was a mess! I found myself apologizing all day to any grownup around, swearing that my class isn’t usually this awful. Even the easy-going ones were falling apart on me, wandering around, making random noises. Trying to gather them for morning meeting was like herding cats, just when you get one to the rug another wanders away. It was chaos. Fortunately it’s only half day! The weather is dreary and drizzly, and there was some talk of indoor recess, but I said no way! Out we went. It wasn’t really raining, maybe just a little moist. They needed it. I needed it!

Now I need a new plan, and apparently some serious work on my classroom management skills. I thought I was doing well, but ugh, maybe not! All day I kept thinking “I’m no good at this, I can’t handle it,” but then the voices of many experienced people filled my head, reminding me that the first year is hard. Even though I’m just the long-term sub, it’s still my first year (or half year, anyway) and it will be hard.

I need a nap.