Confessions of a Teacher's Wife

My dad was an elementary school teacher for over 30 years. So, I thought I knew what I was getting into when I married a teacher. I did not expect him to have the hours of a lawyer or a doctor. The only work that I imagined him bringing home was the piles of homework that his students were so excited to do - and we would sit together with red pens and have a fun time grading together. One thing for sure,  I definitely didn't think that his work would impact my life that much. I have learned a lot.

First of all, Chris probably works 10-12 hours a day. When I am in class 5-10 PM on Tuesdays, he stays in his classroom and has a "late day" to catch up, and hopefully get a little ahead for the week. I think it's safe to say that he spends 60-70 hours in his classroom. Every morning, when I make him cuddle with me for "just five more minutes", he always says, "I really, really need to go, I have soooo much to do!" And then he groans. I have come to realize that a teacher's work is never done, especially when his school has the School Improvement Grant and they are expected to raise test scores so much. It's a lot of pressure. There is always the hope that if he continues to teach the same grade, he will already have lesson plans made from the previous year, and he won't have as much planning to do in the future.

Chris rarely brings work home. Which is a big reason why he stays at the school so much. He would rather leave work at work. Which I appreciate, but I do miss him a lot. I am realistic enough, however, to know that he wouldn't get anything done if he did bring it home. I'm the typical girl that is talking his ear off about my day and my big ideas from the minute he walks in the door, until we go to sleep. I would be too distracting for him to get anything done while at home.

As a school counselor in training, I am reading a lot about school interventions and about helping students be successful. Often, Chris and I will discuss problems that he is experiencing. Most of our discussions now revolve around his work, my work, and what I am learning in class. I feel like we are two nerdy educators trying to solve world hunger. I don't think there is one magic pill to fix the education system, and daily I see the desire that Chris has to be the best teacher, and instill the love of education into his students' minds. I see the frustration he has when they don't listen, or they under perform on benchmark tests. I definitely see the worry on his face, as the year is half over, and he feels like he isn't making a difference.

I have always known that being a teacher is a thankless job. Even if you look at their pay, it wouldn't be hard to figure that out. Especially if you knew the hours they kept. As a social scientist, I make it my unofficial job to be a stalker people watcher. I observe habits and lifestyles of everyone I see. Because I live in teacher housing, and usually can make it home before most of the teachers, I notice when they get home. It is, more often than not, long after their contract says they can go home. Hours and hours and hours of unpayed work is happening, just with the few teachers in my housing complex.

So, here is my big shout out to my favorite teacher. I think it's safe to say that I have a ginormous crush on him, and I write his name in my notebook all of the time (you know, surrounded by hearts and winky faces). I am grateful for the desire he has to be an amazing teacher, and change the world, one student at a time. I am also so glad for his work ethic, and that he is an amazingly hard worker. I'm grateful for all teachers, that give so much of their own time, most of the time at the expense of their families. Thanks for helping shape the future world.