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If you asked me to choose my favorite thing about teaching, it would definitely not be breaking up fights. But I do it. A lot.

Today it was another girl fight, my personal favorite. It happened across the hall, as the substitute teacher just stood there gawking. One of my kids was smart enough to run and alert me, but there’s no better way to get your students off-task then hearing another student yell “FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!” I successfully separated the fighting girls, but struggled to re-direct my kids back to their coordinate planes. I’m sure they eventually got back to work, but I can’t remember since I spent the rest of a day in a post-fight haze.

I’m kind of a bad-ass. Just kidding, I’m actually just on the verge of a heart attack (OK, that’s a little much). I need a break. So I approached my AP today and said “I’m going to be sick tomorrow.” She just looked at me and said “Man, I wish I could be sick tomorrow too.” Believe it or not this will be the first “mental health” day I’ve ever taken. Most teachers at my school take them once a month, and by now I can understand why. This morning’s fight left me so shaken I had to sit at my desk for half an hour (which I never do, I’m always running/dancing/jumping around my class) until I could recover.

I’m counting on the fact that my “sick day” will be relaxing and refreshing.  Do I feel guilty about taking a Thursday off? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely.