We just completed our first week of STAAR testing. My children have learned that during “testing weeks” mom works late and is a little on edge.
It is a normal routine at our house, to ask, “how was your day?”
My son said, “I probably shouldn’t ask you mom, but how was your day? Let me guess, a little stressful?” I told him that testing weeks are stressful, but I will certainly survive. My husband, who is a principal and completely understands testing weeks, told my 7-year-old son that on testing weeks, mom is a Firefighter! Of course, my children thought that sounded so exciting.
As the week progressed, I pondered on “Firefighter” and thought that is exactly what District Testing Coordinators are. We are firefighters that walk around campus all day extinguishing the small fires and sometimes big fires we encounter.
As the week came to an end, we were driving home from dance class. I listened to my children’s conversations in the back seat. My son tells his sister that he loves nonfiction because it is all factual. To his sister he said, “so tell me what you want to be when you grow up and I will explain factual.” My daughter said, “I don’t know what I want to me.” My son then says, “Think about it, what do you really, really want to be?” My daughter, who is a stinker at times, responds with, “I guess you will have to wait until I grow up and then it will be a BIG surprise!” My son lets out a sigh and says, “At least give me a little hint!” She then says, “Okay, they work really, really hard.” I roll my eyes in the front seat, thinking about how stubborn she can be with her brother. Then, my son says, “Addi, that is easy. You gave it away. You want to be a school counselor like mom.” “YEP! You guessed it!”
There are definitely times, during testing weeks, that I question why in the world did I get my Master’s Degree, why did I become a DTC, and why am I a school counselor. Then, there are moments that occur and they remind me why I do what I do, and why I chose this path.
So, as we finish out the school year with all the many state testing exams, I will try to remember these lessons learned this week:
1. I am a firefighter, and we will survive & extinguish all fires that arise.
2. My kids know I work really hard.
3. Someone small out there thinks my job is really cool!
